Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HAMMOCK
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a hammock, and more particularly to a
transverse hammock. Thus the hammock is of the type having two suspension
points where a user of the hammock is supported on a mid-section that extends
transversely to a line between the suspension points.
Introduction
In a traditional hammock, the body of the hammock extends longitudinally
between two suspension points, with the user lying generally in-line with the
suspension points (referred to below as a longitudinal hammock).
One of the problems with a longitudinal hammock is that the hammock will
sag between the suspension points, especially when under load, creating a
curved
bed that the user has to sleep in. This can result in a sleeping position that
some
will find uncomfortable.
With the recent popularity in hammocks for recreational use and in particular
for camping, there have been a number of developments in an alternative type
of
hammock design where the user lies in a transverse direction (a transverse
hammock). Such transverse hammocks can achieve a flatter, more comfortable,
sleeping position for the user.
An example of such a hammock is the Ergo Hammock manufactured by
Exped AG., a company based in Switzerland, and an illustration of the hammock
can be seen in Figure 1A. DE-U-202011103350 of Exped AG also describes
aspects of their hammock. Figure 1B shows a plan view of the hammock as
illustrated in DE-U-202011103350. The user is supported on a rectangular mid-
section of the hammock that extends in a direction which is transverse to an
imaginary line between the suspension points. The mid-section is angled at
around
75 degrees to the imaginary line between the suspension points.
In these known examples, an array of ropes is provided on both sides of the
hammock to support the mid-section suspended between. The ropes radiate out
from a suspension point to a respective lateral edge of the mid-section, with
the
ropes attached to the edge at reinforced points spaced out along the length of
the
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hammock. One criticism of the ropes is that, particularly in a camping hammock
where the ropes are of a thin gauge to be as lightweight as possible, they can
be
prone to becoming tangled with each other as well as with any anchoring straps
when the hammock is packed away in a sack. This can be frustrating for the
user
when he/she comes to erect their hammock at a new site.
In use, despite offering a flatter profile for the user than a longitudinal
hammock, the weight of the person still tends to develop a curved profile in
the mid-
section due to the way the load is transferred to each of the ropes that
radiate out
from the suspension points. The points where the ropes connect to the lateral
edges also represent points of high stress concentration and this can result
in
discomfort from the feeling of bands of tension under the user's body.
Another concern with hammocks is how to keep the user insulated from the
cold when they are being used for camping. Where a side of the hammock is
drawn up against the user, this tends to compress the material of the user's
sleeping bag and this can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the
sleeping
bag's insulation to keep the user warm. Camping pads and other lightweight
mattresses are often used to provide a layer of thermal insulation between the
user
and the external environment, but these are often unrestrained within a
hammock
and can move around during use. Where they are retained in pockets, care has
to
be taken, because the pad can then transfer loads in a way that creates points
of
high seam tension and possibly result in the hammock ripping.
In the transverse hammock manufactured by Exped AG, the mid-section is
provided as a wide continuous sheet of fabric which extends a distance up on
either
side beyond the normal footprint of the sleeping area to the lateral edges of
the
mid-section where the ropes are then attached. A pocket is provided in the
underside of the mid-section to accommodate a sleeping pad. As the pocket
needs
to be sufficiently large to be able to accept a range of commercially
available sizes
of sleeping pad, one which is thinner than the pocket will tend to rest on the
lower
surface of the pocket, hanging away from the under-surface of the mid-section
that
the user sleeps on. This can result in less warmth being retained by the user.
It would be desirable to improve on these arrangements and provide a
hammock that can achieve a flatter position for the user to lie in.
It would also be desirable to provide a hammock that can offer more
functionality for the user.
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Summary of the Invention
Viewed from a first aspect there is provided a transverse hammock
comprising: a pair of suspension points provided on opposed sides of the
hammock
that the hammock is arranged to suspend from in use; a mid-section for
supporting
a user's body in a direction which is transverse to a line between the
suspension
points; and a pair of wings extending outwardly from opposing lateral edges of
the
mid-section to the suspension points.
The wings offer many advantages over the known hammock arrangements.
The most noticeable for the user is the simplicity of the structure and the
ease of
erection and use. The wings also allow a more even distribution of the tension
that
is experienced in the mid-section during use and the ability to provide a
flatter
sleeping position. They also offer a greater degree of protection from cold
breezes.
These will de described in more detail below.
The "line" between the suspension points may be an imaginary straight line
or more preferably it is represented by a real line provided by a strap or
rope which
forms a ridge line extending between the suspension points. A ridge line
provides
the benefit that the cut of the hammock can be based on a known separation
distance of the suspension points and so the hammock's properties can be more
carefully preset. Additional anchoring lines (e.g., straps or ropes) can then
extend
out from each suspension point to an anchoring part. These might be an
adjustable
strap for looping around a tree or some other immovable object, that the
hammock
can then be suspended from.
The term "transverse" used herein to describe the orientation of the mid-
section to the line between the suspension points also includes "substantially
transverse", i.e., it includes arrangements where the mid-section is within
30
degrees of perpendicular, more preferably within 20 degrees of perpendicular
and
most preferably within 15 degrees of perpendicular. In one preferred example
the
mid-section is orientated at right angles to the line between the suspension
points;
namely the mid-section may be orientated to support the user's body
perpendicularly to the line between the suspension points.
The wings may comprise fabric material, for example, a panel made from
one or more pieces of woven fabric. These fabric wings are in place of the
ropes
radiating from the suspension points as used in the prior art of Figures 1A
and 1B.
The wings avoid the tangling problems experienced with the rope arrangements.
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It has also been found that by using a fabric, with its pattern of threads
(the
warp and the weft), the distribution of the user's weight can be taken account
of
more precisely in the construction of the hammock, for example, in order to
achieve
a flatter, more comfortable sleeping position. The nature of the fibres within
the
fabric also tends to distribute the forces within the wings, resulting in a
more even
distribution of stresses at the seams/joins and a more comfortable sleeping
experience for the user.
The fabric material may extend to the suspension point or may finish short
thereof, for example, to leave a small gap or provide room for netting or
other
material at the top of each wing. Preferably the fabric extends at least 80%
of the
way up each wing, more preferably at least 90%, i.e., that woven fabric is at
least
present in the region between one third and two thirds up each wing,
preferably the
full height of the wing, in order to help distribute loads within a central
region of the
wing (e.g., in the x and y directions of the warp and weft), in contrast to
the ropes of
the prior art hammocks (which carry the loads solely in radial directions).
The fabric may be orientated so that the warp / weft are substantially
aligned, i.e., parallel or perpendicular, with the line extending between the
suspension points when viewed from above (unless stated otherwise, all
references
herein to this line between the suspension points are intended to be when the
hammock is viewed from above, e.g., when laid out flat on a floor). With this
alignment of the warp / weft, the weight is generally carried along the length
of the
fibres which extend down through the central portions of the wings, with load
also
being transmitted along the bias of the fabric, i.e., diagonally across the
fabric, to
the side edges of the fabric.
The fabric of the wings could also be cut on the bias, such that the warp and
weft are inclined to this line extending between the suspension points, for
example,
the threads may extend in a direction that is inclined at between about 30 to
60
degrees to the line extending between the suspension points, and more
preferably
at about 45 degrees to this line ("about" implying, for example, 100, more
preferably 5 , when the hammock is viewed from above and laid out flat). In
this
way, as the fabric is caused to stretch under the load of the user, tension is
transmitted out to the side edges of the wings via the fibres, and in this way
it
distributes the tension more evenly within the fabric of wings.
The use of a fabric for the wings helps to spread the tension, reducing the
tendency for the hammock to tear, e.g., at the seams, and improving the
comfort for
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the user (the hammock feels more supple and the tension feels less localised
as a
band passing under the user). By appropriate cutting of the base edge of the
wing,
and in some embodiments orientating the fabric on the bias, it also helps to
keep
the wings looking taut regardless of the resting position of the user.
The wings are preferably cut with a curved base edge which has a profile
configured (having taken account of the orientation of the fabric) to provide
a
substantially flat mid-section for the user when the hammock is under load
from a
user resting in it.
Preferably the profile of the base edge of each wing includes at least one
convex section. Thus in arrangements where the mid-section has been cut with a
rectangular or approximately rectangular outline shape each wing may be
roughly
triangular in shape with a generally convex base edge (as opposed to a
strictly
triangular profile with straight edges) arranged to produce a substantially
flat mid-
section for the user to lie on when the fabric is under load.
More preferably, where the fabric is orientated on the bias, i.e, the fibres
will
be at roughly 45 to the line between the two suspension points when viewed
from
above, the profile of the base edge may include two, spaced, convex sections
and a
centrally positioned concave section between. Thus the base edge will have an
undulating profile.
The wings are configured so that the weight of the user, which will be
distributed all along the mid-section of the hammock between the head and foot
ends (often not in a particularly even manner), is balanced with the centre of
mass
located below the line between the suspension points. As a person's mass tends
to
be located more in their shoulders and upper sections of their body than their
legs,
preferably this centre of mass position or 'mid-point' of the hammock (i.e.,
the
region directly beneath the line between the suspension points) is not a true
halfway point of the mid-section, but instead a point positioned further up
the mid-
section towards the head end. In other words, the suspension points are
positioned
slightly closer to the head end than the foot end, and the hammock is
asymmetric
about this `mid-point' where the centre of the user's mass is intended to be
carried.
The wings are preferably configured so that the side edges of the wings
converge towards a given suspension point at an angle a that is less than an
angle
13 subtended by two imaginary lines radiating from the suspension point to the
head
end and to the foot end of the mid-section respectively. Described in another
way,
the wings are narrower at the suspension points than they would be if the
wings
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had been cut from a triangular piece of fabric that extends to the head and
foot
ends of the mid-section. This is preferably through providing wings that are
substantially bell-shaped in profile, with side edges that curve inwardly.
Bell-shaped wings have scooped side edges and this arrangement has
been found to carry the forces better within the wings. For example, a main
force
component may extend diagonally up the fabric of the wing from the `mid-point'
of
the mid-section, and this together with force components from other loaded
regions
of the mid-section may blend with one another roughly around the middle of the
scooped side edge to then be directed up to the suspension point in a balanced
manner along a reinforced seam that runs up the side edge.
The angle a may be centred about a principal line of tension extending
between a suspension point and a centre of mass position, i.e., a/2
corresponds
essentially with the `mid-point' of the hammock where the centre of mass is
carried.
In this way, the majority of the weight on the hammock is transmitted
centrally up
the wings from the centre of mass point, within a central portion of the
fabric lying
generally along the a/2 line and within the angle a defined by the side edges
of the
wing.
Thus the angle 13 may correspond to around 90 as the angle subtended by
the imaginary lines extending from the foot and head ends to the suspension
point,
and by contrast the angle a may be less than 60 , for example less than 45
and
more preferably around 30 or less. The angle a may satisfy the condition 13/4
a
13/2, and preferably is a value corresponding to about 13/3.
The side edges of the wings may have a concave or cut-away profile, so
that in the lower regions of the wings and in particular along the base edge
of the
wings, the wings are configured to reach out towards the head and foot ends of
the
hammock. For example, at the base edge the wings may reach out to points that
subtend the suspension points with imaginary lines at an angle 13 or close
thereto.
Thus viewed from another aspect, there can be seen to be provided a
transverse hammock, the hammock comprising a pair of suspension points
provided on opposed sides of a transversely orientated mid-section, the mid-
section
providing a surface with a head end and a foot end for a user to lie on,
wherein the
hammock comprises a pair of wings that support the mid-section, each wing
being
defined by a base edge attached to the mid-section and by a pair of side edges
that
converge towards a given suspension point at an angle a, wherein the angle a
is
less than an angle 13 subtended by two imaginary lines radiating from the
given
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suspension point to the head end and to the foot end of the mid-section
respectively.
The mid-section may be approximately rectangular in profile, having straight
or generally straight lateral edges extending from the head end to the foot
end. The
mid-section could also comprise other profiles such as a truncated wedge shape
with a wider head end than the foot end, and/or have curved lateral edges to
create
an elliptical or egg-shaped profile.
The mid-section may include a pocket for a sleeping pad. Preferably the
mid-section is formed as a sleeve to house the sleeping pad, most preferably
as a
rectangular pocket, the long edges of the pocket providing the lateral edges
that the
wings extend from.
The pocket may be of a size to accommodate a range of commercial
sleeping pads. The pocket may incorporate an internal pouch at the head end
and/or foot end(s) in order to be able to hold a range of different lengths of
mat
more tightly. The sleeping pad may be a foam pad, an air mattress, a down or
fibre-filled air mattress or any other form of mattress that might be
suitable. The
hammock may be supplied with a removable sleeping pad, or it could be
integrally
formed with the hammock, for example as an integral inflatable mattress
portion.
The hammock may also include inflatable elements, for example, tubes
extending along each of the lateral edges, as well as possibly across the head
or
foot ends, to provide beams that impart rigidity to the mid-section and
further help to
distribute the forces in the wings of the hammock.
Preferably the hammock is configured so that a significant portion of the
load from the user, i.e., more than 50% of the load, is carried by a central
portion of
the wings (i.e., the portion within the angle a described above), the tension
from the
load extending down to the 'mid-point' or centre of mass positioned directly
below
the line between the suspension points when the hammock is in use.
This has been found to assist other functionality. Thus viewed from a
further aspect, there can be seen to be provided a hammock comprising: a pair
of
suspension points provided on opposed sides of the hammock that the hammock is
arranged to suspend from in use; a mid-section for supporting a user's body in
a
direction transverse to a line between the suspension points; and on each
side, a
line of adjustable length for reducing, whilst in use, at a first location
along each
opposing lateral edge of the mid-section, a distance between that location and
the
respective suspension point, so as to raise a first portion of the mid-section
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corresponding to the first location and thereby change the shape of the mid-
section
from a first configuration to a second configuration.
In this way, the hammock can be made adjustable. The first configuration
may be a reclined configuration, for example, where the user is lying
substantially
flat. The second configuration may be a raised configuration, for example,
where a
shoulder region of the user is raised with respect to the legs.
Where a significant portion of the load from the user is being carried by the
central portion of the wings as described above, this allows the line of
adjustable
length, which might be a strap or a cord passing through an adjustment device,
to
be shortened easily by the user while they are still in place, resting in the
hammock.
This line of adjustable length may pull up a portion of the mid-section that
supports
an upper region of the user's back, in order to raise the user's shoulders
from a
reclined position to a seated position. The line of adjustable length may
comprise a
handle for the user to pull on.
The hammock may further comprise, on each side, a line of adjustable
length for reducing, whilst in use, at a second location along each of the
opposing
lateral edges of the mid-section, a distance between that location and the
respective suspension point, so as to raise a second portion of the mid-
section
corresponding to the second location and thereby change the shape of the mid-
section to a third configuration. Preferably the second location on each of
the
opposing lateral edges is arranged so that, when in use, reducing the distance
between the second location and the respective suspension point elevates a
knee
region of a user supported by the mid-section. Thus, when the shoulders of the
user have been raised, the user may shorten the second set of lines of
adjustable
length in order to raise his / her knees into a full-seated position. Pulling
the knees
of the user up also helps to compensate for the slight shift in movement of
the
centre of gravity associated with raising the shoulders.
By raising a location corresponding to the knees of the user, the hammock
can be made to 'buckle' at this position to allow the user's knees to bend.
Preferably the lines of adjustable length are connected to the mid-section by
hoisting webs. These may comprise roughly triangular pieces of fabric that
help to
distribute the forces along the region of lateral edge (and helps to
accommodate
different heights of user too). The hoisting webs may be cut with the same
orientation as the wings, and in one example are cut on the bias. In a similar
way
to the wings, the one or more hoisting webs may be substantially bell-shaped
with
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scooped side edges. They may also include rounded bottom edges (either of a
generally convex or an undulated profile according to the orientation of the
fabric).
In a further arrangement, two or more lines of adjustable length may be
attached to
a common hoisting web that is arranged to raise more than one location along
the
mid-section, each independently of the next.
The line(s) of adjustable length may comprise an arrangement which
provides at least a two to one purchase on the load. In an example, the line
of
adjustable length descends from a suspension point through a buckle to a ring
provided on a hoisting web, which preferably comprises a substantially
triangular
panel that is joined to a lateral edge of the mid-section, and back from the
ring to
the buckle, to allow it to be tightened or released by the user.
The hammock may be provided at the foot end with a footbox. This is a
pocket arrangement that provides room for the feet of the user without the
fabric
being under tension where it surrounds the feet. In this way the insulating
material
of the sleeping bag can remain in a reasonably uncompressed form and thereby
maintain its insulating properties. The footbox may be cut with extra fabric
provided
in a roof portion of the footbox to allow room for the user's toes to extend
up into
during use.
The hammock may be made of any suitable material. Preferably it is made
of a lightweight fabric such as nylon or polyester, more preferably a ripstop
nylon
material. However, it could equally be made from other fabrics such as cotton
or
any mixture of fibres as desired.
The hammock may be provided with a bug net, which attaches to the
hammock, for example, by using a long zip or hook and eye fabric connection
(e.g.,
Velcro()) provided around an upper part of the hammock. If a footbox is
present
then running the zip (or other connector) along an upper edge of the footbox
facilitates an easier opening and closing of the zip while the user is seated
in the
hammock. The fabric of the wings also helps to avoid points where the stresses
are concentrated such that it can make it difficult to connect and disconnect
the bug
net. A carabiner may be provided to hook the top of the bug net to a ridge
line.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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Certain preferred embodiments of the hammock will now be described in
greater detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1A shows an illustration of a known transverse hammock;
Figure 1B shows a further illustration of the known transverse hammock;
Figures 2A and 2B are plan and perspective views of a first preferred
hammock with bell-shaped wings;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a preferred hammock having triangular wings;
Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate examples of different wing shapes;
Figure 5 is a view showing panels of fabric for use in a preferred hammock;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hammock showing considerations for the
wings;
Figure 7 shows a plan view of another preferred hammock where the user is
in a sleeping position, the hammock comprising controls in the form of lines
of
adjustable length for adjusting the profile of the hammock;
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the hammock of Figure 7 with the
controls adjusted to provide a reclining position for the user;
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a preferred hammock with the controls
adjusted to provide a fully-seated configuration for the user;
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the hammock of Figure 9 being used
for camping;
Figure 11A shows a perspective view of a preferred hammock with a bug
net and Figure 11B shows it with an additional flysheet;
Figure 12 shows an example of a line of adjustable length and a portion of a
hoisting web;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a further preferred hammock with an
alternative arrangement for the controls;
Figure 14A shows a cross-sectional view through a preferred hammock
including a sleeping pad and Figure 14B shows a similar view where an
additional
pouch has been incorporated to accommodate a smaller sleeping pad;
Figure 15A is a representation of how the sleeping pad may be inserted and
extracted and Figure 15B shows a similar view where an additional pouch has
been
incorporated in the hammock like in Figure 14B;
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Figure 16A is a perspective view of a preferred hammock which has been
provided with inflatable tubes and Figure 16B shows an enlargement of this
detail.
Figure, Figures 160 and 16D shows similar views for an embodiment where an
inflatable ring replaces the inflatable tubes, and Figures 16E and 16F show
partial
perspective views of a further embodiment having a different arrangement of an
inflatable tube;
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a preferred hammock for two users;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a preferred hammock similar to the one
shown in Figure 17 which is additionally provided with controls in the form of
lines of
adjustable length for adjusting the profile of the hammock, the hammock being
shown in a sleeping configuration;
Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the hammock of Figure 18 with the
controls setting the hammock into a reclining configuration;
Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the hammock of Figure 18 with the
controls putting the hammock into a fully-sitting configuration; and
Figure 21 is a perspective view of another preferred hammock with narrower
wings.
Detailed Description
Figure 1A illustrates a front perspective view of a known transverse
hammock 1 that is available from Exped AG. The hammock 1 has a pair of
suspension points 2, which are in turn suspended from lines 3 that are
anchored to
immovable objects, such as two adjacent trees (not shown). The separation of
the
suspension points 2 is controlled by a ridge line 4 that extends between the
two
suspension points 2.
The hammock is a transverse hammock, i.e., the user is intended to lie on a
mid-section 5 that is orientated substantially at right angles to the ridge
line 4. Thus
the head end 6 and the foot end 7 of the mid-section 5 are positioned either
side of
the ridge line 4 when viewed from above rather than in line with it.
The opposed lateral edges 8 of the mid-section 5 are suspended from an
array of ropes 9 that extend from each suspension point 2, the ropes 9 being
spread out along the lateral edge 8 at intervals. The length of the ropes 9 is
fixed to
provide a suitable sleeping position for the user. In order to make the
hammock 1
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as lightweight as possible, these ropes 9 can be of a narrow gauge which makes
them prone to tangling.
As can be seen in the figure, a pocket 10 is provided on the under-surface
of the hammock 1 to accommodate a sleeping pad (not shown) for the user. A
seam where the pocket 10 is sewn to the mid-section 5 marks out a 'base' of
the
hammock 1 corresponding to the sleeping area for the user. The width of the
mid-
section 5, however, is much wider than this base, such that the fabric
continues up
to a lateral edge 8 to provide a shallow 'side' for the user. Where the ropes
9 attach
to the mid-section 5, significant stress concentrations can develop when the
hammock 1 is under load from a user. Over the top of the user, a bug net 11
may
be provided, suspended from the ridge line 4 and connected to upper parts of
the
hammock 1 by a zip.
Figure 1B shows the transverse hammock 1 as depicted in DE-U-
202011103350 (similar features in Figure 1A are indicated by the same
reference
number in Figure 1B). When viewed from above, as shown, the mid-section 5 of
this hammock 1 is angled so that it is around 15 off being at right angles to
the line
between the pair of suspension points 2. An array of ropes 9 is provided on
each
side of the hammock to suspend the mid-section 5, the ropes 9 extending
between
a suspension point 2 and a respective lateral edge 8 of the mid-section 5.
Figure 2A shows a preferred hammock 20 viewed from above. It comprises
a pair of spaced suspension points 22 from which the hammock 20 is suspended.
Lines 23 (see Figure 2B) for anchoring the hammock 20 to a pair of trees or
other
immovable objects, extend from the other side of the suspension points 22. The
hammock 20 comprises a mid-section 25 having a head end 26 and a foot end 27
arranged on opposite sides of a line 24 extending between the two suspension
points 22. Thus the hammock 20 is a transverse hammock with a mid-section 25,
which provides a surface that a user can lie on as shown, arranged
substantially at
right angles to a ridge line 24a.
The mid-section 25 may be substantially rectangular in outline as shown,
defined by opposed (left and right) lateral edges 28 extending between edges
at the
head end 26 and foot end 27. A rectangular outline is useful because it
corresponds to that of most commercially available sleeping mats. The mid-
section
could, of course, be a different shape, for example, a tapered or wedge shape,
or
provided with curved lateral edges to give a substantially oval or egg-shaped
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outline. The mid-section 25 may also include rounded corners to impart some
tension into the wings 29 at that point.
The mid-section 25 of the hammock 20 is preferably arranged to provide an
essentially flat surface for the user to lie on. The flatness can be assisted
through
the incorporation of a sleeping pad within a pocket of the mid-section 25. The
pocket may include one or more internal pouch(es) for the head end and/or foot
end
of the sleeping pad to be tucked into (these will be discussed in more detail
later
with respect to Figure 14). The sleeping pad helps to tension the mid-section
25 in
the length direction, and through the provision of one or more pouches can be
arranged to accommodate different lengths of sleeping pad. Additional
tensioning
elements, such as inflatable tubes or rods etc., could be used to help stiffen
the
mid-section 25. For example, an inflatable tube could be incorporated either
side of
a sleeping pad in the mid-section 25 extending along the lateral edges 28.
The hammock 20 is shown in perspective in Figure 2B. As can be seen in
the figure, the mid-section 25 is suspended from a pair of wings 29, each of
which
is connected to a lateral edge 28 of the mid-section 25. In use, the wings 29
comprise flat, roughly triangular panels that extend from the lateral edges 28
up to
the suspension points 22, the wings 29 being inclined at an angle of between
20 to
70 to the line 24 between the suspension points 22, more preferably between
30
and 60 to the line 24, and most preferably at around 45 15 to this line
24. The
wings 29 may comprise single, generally triangular pieces of fabric, or could
be
made from several pieces of fabric that are sewn together. More preferably the
wings 29 are bell-shaped as shown, having pronounced curved side edges 32 that
extend from the ends of a bottom edge 33 (that is joined to the mid-section
25) up
to suspension points 22 along a concave path. The wings 29 may reach out to
the
head end 26 and the foot end 27 of the mid-section 25 to span the length of
the
lateral edges 28.
Figure 3 shows a top view of an alternative transverse hammock 20 (where
similar features are indicated by the same reference numbers). In this
embodiment,
the wings 29 have straight side edges 32' extending from the suspension points
22
to the head and foot ends 26, 27 of the mid-section 25, in order to provide
wings 29
with a triangular profile.
The wings 29 in any of the embodiments may be made of any suitable
woven material, for example, a lightweight man-made fabric suitable for
camping
situations, such as a polyester or nylon material, preferably including a rip-
stop fibre
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within the weave. An example would be a rip-stop nylon. The fabric could also
be
made from fibres like cotton or silk, or indeed any mixture of natural fibres
with
man-made fibres so long as the fabric is sufficiently strong for its purpose.
A woven fabric material, which will have a warp and a weft arranged at 90
to each other, has been found to distribute forces from the user's weight in a
more
advantageous way than was previously achievable with an array of ropes 9. This
is
because the fabric will stretch under load, particularly along the bias of the
fabric
(45 to the warp and weft), as the warp and weft are caused to pull apart
slightly.
This in turn helps to spread the load diagonally within the panel as well as
along the
fibre direction, and in this way it can avoid stress concentrations which
might cause
a seam to pull apart. The seams might be formed by stitching, gluing, welding,
or
any combination of these, and may comprise a locked or double locked
arrangement.
Some possible outline shapes of the wings 29 are shown in more detail in
Figures 4A, 4B and 40. The fabric of the wings 29 may be orientated in two
main
directions, namely with the warp / weft (as indicated by the crossed arrows in
the
figures) arranged substantially aligned with a principal direction of tension
T in the
wings 29 which runs from the top corner down the middle of the wing 29 as
shown
in Figure 4A (the warp / weft will also be aligned with the imaginary line 24
extending between the suspension points 22 when viewed from above), and with
the warp / weft inclined to the principal direction of tension T (and the line
24
extending between the suspension points 22 when viewed from above), preferably
at around 45 , as shown in Figure 4B. Figure 40 shows a triangular wing with
the
warp / weft aligned with the lateral edge 28.
Preferably the wings 29 are provided with a curved bottom edge 33. Where
the fabric is substantially aligned with the principal direction of tension T,
this may
be provided as a smooth, rounded convex section 33', and where the fabric is
inclined to the principal direction of tension T, e.g., at 45 , then the
curved bottom
edge 33 may define rounded convex sections 33' at the ends towards the side
edges 32, and a concave section 33" towards the middle of the bottom edge 33,
giving it an undulating or wavy profile as shown. When the wing 29 is under
load
from the weight of a user, the wing 29 stretches causing this bottom edge 33
to
straighten and thereby match the straight or generally straight lateral edge
28 of the
mid-section 25.
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Figure 5 shows a preferred arrangement of two wings 39 cut on the bias
(warp and weft orientated at 45 to a principal direction of tension T)
arranged on
opposite sides of the mid-section 25. Each wing 29 has curved (scooped) side
edges 32 to provide a bell-shaped appearance, as well as an undulating bottom
edge 33 to encourage the mid-section 25 to achieve a flat profile when under
load.
The orientation of the fabric for the mid-section 25 is preferably standard
and
aligned with the warp and weft parallel / perpendicular to its lateral edges
28 / head
and foot ends 26, 27.
Figure 6 shows details of the bell-shaped wings 29 in more detail. Thus the
wings may be configured so that the side edges 32 of the wings 29 curve
inwardly
and converge towards a given suspension point 22 at an angle a that is less
than
an angle 13 subtended by two imaginary lines 13i, 132 radiating from the
suspension
point 22 to the head end 26 and to the foot end 27 of the mid-section 25
respectively. As a result, the wings 29 are significantly narrower adjacent
the
suspension points 22 than they would be if they had been cut from a triangular
piece of fabric having straight edges extending to the head and foot ends 26,
27.
This curve in the side edges 32 helps to direct load being transmitted
diagonally
within the wings 29 and from the head and foot ends 26, 27 along the side
edges
32 of the wings 29 up towards the suspension point 22 without distorting the
appearance of the wing 29.
The angle a may be centred about a principal line of tension T as shown.
The principal line of tension T follows the surface of the wings from a
suspension
point 22, down the wing 29 to a centre of mass position C, indicated by the
dashed
line which passes across the mid-section 25. Through this, a majority of the
weight
on the hammock 20 is transmitted centrally up the wings 29 from the centre of
mass
point C within a relatively narrow band of fabric lying generally along the
principal
line of tension T (a12) and within the sector of angle a as defined by the
imaginary
lines ai and a2 projecting the convergence of the side edges 32 of the wing
29. As
indicated in the figure, this central portion of the fabric within the lines
al and a2
may be only around a third of the angular width of the area between the lines
131
and 132 extending to the head end 26 and foot end 27 of the mid-section 25.
By carrying the weight of the user in this way, it assists with providing
further
functionality to the hammock 20. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the
hammock
20 may be provided with controls, for example, in the form of one, preferably
two,
sets of lines of adjustable length 34 for reducing, whilst in use, at a
location along
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each opposing lateral edge 28 of the mid-section 25 that might be for example,
a
region behind the shoulders of the user or a region behind the knees of the
user, a
distance between that location and the respective suspension point 22. By
reducing the distance of the line 34, it can raise the shoulder or knee region
of the
mid-section 25 and thereby change the shape of the mid-section 25 from a first
configuration (e.g., a flat configuration for sleeping as shown in Figure 7)
to a
second configuration (e.g., back raised configuration for relaxing as shown in
Figure
8) or to a third configuration (e.g., back and knees raised configuration for
sitting up
in the hammock 20 as shown in Figure 9, which shows a front perspective view
of
another preferred embodiment of the hammock). The user can also use these
controls to adjust the profile of the mid-section for the most preferred
sleeping
position.
Preferably, each of the lines of adjustable length 34 extend from a
suspension point 22 to a hoisting web 35 as illustrated, which spreads the
forces
over a section of the lateral edge 28. In the same way as the wings 29, these
hoisting webs 35 are preferably bell-shaped with curved side edges 36, and
preferably a rounded bottom edge (of either a generally convex profile if the
fibres
of the fabric are aligned with the lateral edge 28 or an undulating profile
with a
concave section centred between two convex sections if the hoisting webs 35
are
aligned on their bias). The base edges of the hoisting webs, as well as
assisting to
distribute load, also help to make the lines of adjustable length 34 more
suitable for
a range of different height users, particularly the lines for raising the
knees.
Figure 12 shows an example of a line of adjustable length 34 in greater
detail. Here the line 34 comprises two portions of strap, one hanging down
from the
suspension point 22 (suspension point 22 not shown) and holding a buckle 37,
and
the other descending from the buckle 37, to a ring 38 at the top of the
hoisting web
where the side edges 36 converge, back up to the buckle 37, and then returning
in the opposite direction towards the user, where it then terminates in a
handle 39
for the user to pull on.
30 The line
of adjustable length 34 can of course take other forms, for example,
arrangements using ropes, pulleys, cleats and/or ratchets, etc. The
arrangement
may provide a simple 1 to 1 relationship, i.e., the amount of line 34 pulled
is equal
to the amount the region is raised, or it may provide a greater degree of
purchase,
e.g., as a 1 to 2 (as shown in Figure 12), 1 to 3, 1 to 4 purchase, etc.,
depending on
35 the amount of effort desired.
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Figure 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the hammock 20 in use in a
seated configuration, with Figure 10 showing the hammock adapted for use in a
camping scenario. The hammock 20 is suspended from a pair of trees (not shown)
via lines 23 that attach to the suspension points 22. Then over the top of the
hammock 20, a flysheet or canopy 40 is provided, which is either suspended
over
the ridge line 24a of the hammock 20, or more preferably, is suspended from
additional lines 41 extending to the trees. The canopy 40 is further pulled
taut using
guys 42 which extend to the ground.
In the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10, the hammock 20 is provided with a
footbox 43, comprising a specially shaped pocket of fabric having an
expandable
section 44 for the user's toes to extend into without introducing tension into
the
fabric.
Figure 11A is a perspective view of a hammock 20 fitted with a bug net 31.
The bug net 31 can be provided with a zip or some other form of detachable
connection which runs around the upper region of one wing 29, across the top
edge
of the footbox 43, around the upper region of the other wing 29 and across the
fabric at the head end 26 of the mid-section 25. The top of the bug net 31 may
be
provided with a carabiner 45 or other connector for hooking on to the
ridgeline 24a.
Figure 11B shows the hammock arrangement of Figure 11A being used with
a flysheet 40 that is suspended from additional lines 41 and pulled taut by
guys 42.
Figure 13 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the hammock
20. As with the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2B, the hammock 20 comprises a
mid-section 25 that is supported from a pair of suspension points 22 by a pair
of
fabric wings 29. As with the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9, the hammock is
further
provided with lines of adjustable length 34 for raising the shoulders and the
knees
of the user. However, in this embodiment, the hoisting web 35' is common to
both
lines 34. Thus the hoisting web 35' comprises at least two apexes, more
preferably
three, where the side edges 36 converge, with the lines of adjustable length
34
being connected to at least two of these. The whole of the base edge 46 of the
common hoisting web 35' may be connected to the lateral edge 28 as shown. The
lines of adjustable length 34 may be connected at their upper ends to the
suspension point 22 or to a centrally extending line 47 as shown.
Figure 14A is a cross-section through a hammock 20 showing a pocket 48
within the mid-section 25 housing a sleeping pad 49. The pocket 48 is provided
with a first pouch 50a in the head end 26 and a second pouch 50b in the tail
end
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27. By hooking the sleeping pad 49 into one or both of these internal pouches
50a,
50b, the length of the mid-section 25 can be effectively shortened with
respect to
the sleeping pad 49, enabling the hammock 20 to accommodate a wide range of
different lengths of sleeping pad 49 while maintaining tautness in the mid-
section
25. The pouches 50a, 50b also help to prevent the sleeping pad 49 from moving
about within the pocket 48 during use.
Figure 14B illustrates a cross-section through another preferred hammock
20 which has a first pouch 50a in the head end 26, but has two longitudinally
spaced (with respect to a length direction of the mid-section 25) pouches 50c
and
50d in the tail end 27. The pouches 50c and 50d can be suitably spaced to
accommodate two main sizes of sleeping pad 49, the user choosing the
appropriate
pouch 50c, 50d according to the fit of the sleeping pad 49.
If desired an additional pouch may be provided in the head end 26 of the
mid-section 25 either as an alternative to the extra pouch 50c in the tail end
27 or in
addition to it, for example at half the spacing, in order to provide a further
range of
possible sizes. Further, a strap or other tightening mechanism could be
provided
on one or more of the pouches 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d to provide further adjustment
and holding of the sleeping pad 49 in an appropriate position under the user.
As the weight of the user can be mostly carried by the bottom layer of fabric
of the mid-section 25, the sleeping pad 49 within the pocket 48 is kept close
to the
body of the user, increasing the warmth and comfort of the user.
The fitting of the sleeping pad 49 within the pocket 48 of the mid-section 25
is shown in more detail in the perspective view of Figure 15A. In this
arrangement,
the pocket 48 may be accessible from both the head end 26 and foot end 27 in
order to slide the sleeping pad 49 into the pocket 48 and into one or both of
the
pouches 50a, 50b. Figure 15B shows how a sleeping pad can be slid over a first
pouch 50d and into a second pouch 50c positioned further up the mid-section 25
as
a way to shorten the effective length of the pocket 48 for a shorter sleeping
pad 49.
In this way, the pocket 48 can be arranged to accommodate easily different
lengths
of sleeping pad, whilst preventing it from sliding down the pocket when the
hammock 20 is in use.
Figure 16A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the hammock
20. In this example, no lines of adjustable length 34 are shown, though could
be
incorporated if desired. On either side of the mid-section 25, extending along
each
lateral edge 28, is provided an inflatable tube Si. The inflatable tubes Si
help to
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stretch out the mid-section 25 and transfer the load of the user to the wings
29
appropriately. The inflatable tubes 51 may each be provided within a
cylindrical
pocket 52 and provided with a valve 53 for inflating by mouth, pump (e.g., bag
pump) or other means, as shown in the enlargement of Figure 16B. The position
of
the valve, of course, is not critical. Such a hammock arrangement may also
include
a pocket in the mid-section 25 for a sleeping pad (not shown) located between
the
inflatable tubes 51.
Figures 160 and 16D show a perspective view and enlargement
respectively of another preferred embodiment where the inflatable tubes 51 of
Figures 16A and 16B have been replaced with a single inflatable tube 51 in the
form of a loop that extends completely around the perimeter of the mid-section
25
(e.g., from the valve 53, up one lateral edge 28 across the head end 26, down
the
other lateral edge 28 and across the tail end 27 back to the valve 53). This
has the
advantage that only a single valve mechanism is required and it also makes it
slightly quicker to erect the hammock.
Figures 16E and 16F show yet another preferred embodiment, firstly as a
partial perspective view in Fig 16E (one wing 29 has been left off for ease of
viewing) and secondly as a cross-sectional view in Figure 16F. In this
embodiment
the inflatable tube 51 extends only part way around the perimeter of the
hammock
20. Thus it extends as shown from the valve 53 at the tail end, up along one
lateral
edge 28, across the head end 26 and down the other lateral edge 28 to the tail
end
27. Again, the position of the valve 53 is not fixed and it could be
positioned
anywhere along this inflatable tube 51. In this embodiment, the portion of the
inflatable tube 51 at the head end 26, as well as connecting up the lateral
edge
portions of the tube 51 to avoid the need for an additional valve, acts as a
frame to
support the upper edge of the head end 26 and any bug net to keep them from
coming into contact with the user's face. An additional web of material 29'
may be
provided extending from each side edge of the wing 29 to support the head and
tail
ends 26, 27 of the hammock 20 further. Together such modifications can help to
create more room inside the hammock 20 as desired.
The arrangements with one or more inflatable tubes 51 are also less reliant
on the sleeping pad 49 for stretching out the mid-section 25. In these
embodiments
the sleeping pad 49, if fitted, can be mounted further down in the structure
of the
mid-section 25, allowing for additional comfort layers to be incorporated
between
the sleeping pad 49 and the user. In one example, in place of a sleeping pad,
an
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under-quilt may be suspended or attached underneath the mid-section 25, for
example, using releasable fasteners or hook and eye material to hold it in
place
under the inflatable tube(s) 51. This might offer a more comfortable or
breathable
solution for some climates.
While the foregoing has described a hammock intended for one user, it
would also be possible for the hammock to be arranged to accommodate two
people, for example, lying in a side by side arrangement. To prevent the two
occupants rolling together, the centre of the mid-section may be supported by
a
connection to a ridge line. Thus there can be seen to be disclosed a hammock
comprising: a pair of suspension points provided on opposed sides of the
hammock
that the hammock is arranged to suspend from in use; a mid-section for
supporting
one or more users' bodies in a direction substantially transverse to a line
between
the suspension points; and a pair of wings extending outwardly from opposing
lateral edges of the mid-section substantially to the suspension points.
Preferably such a hammock includes a ridge line extending between the
suspension points. Preferably the mid-section includes a leash or supporting
web
of fabric connected to a central part of the mid-section to suspend this part
of the
hammock from the ridge line. Any or all of the previously described preferred
features may also be read in conjunction with such a two-person transverse
hammock without restriction.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of such a two-person hammock 60. The
hammock 60 comprises a pair of suspension points 62 provided on opposed sides
of the hammock that the hammock is arranged to suspend from in use. It further
comprises a mid-section 65 that is configured to support two users, both lying
in a
direction substantially transverse to an imaginary line 64 between the
suspension
points 62. The hammock 60 also comprises a pair of wings 69, which extend
outwardly from opposing lateral edges 68 of the mid-section 65 substantially
to the
suspension points 62. Between the suspension points 62 is arranged a ridgeline
64a that a central region of the mid-section 65 can be supported by, for
example, by
way of a central support 61 in the form of a leash or central web(s) of fabric
extending from the mid-section 65 to the ridgeline 64a. The central support 61
may
span the full length of the mid-section 65 as shown from the head end 66 to
the foot
end 67.
Figure 18 is a variation on this two-person hammock 60 in which lines of
adjustable length 74 have been included in order to raise the shoulders or
knees of
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the two users. If desired, the hoisting webs 75 can be swapped for a common
hoisting web, in a similar way to Figure 13. By pulling on these lines of
adjustable
length 74, the users can be raised from a sleeping position (as shown in
Figure 18)
to a shoulders raised resting position (as shown in Figure 19) through to a
fully
seated, knees bent, sitting position (as shown in Figure 20).
Figure 21 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the hammock 20
having a narrower pair of wings 29, the side edges of which correspond
essentially
to the region enclosed by the lines ai and a2 bounding the angle a illustrated
in
Figure 6. Thus the base edge of these wings 29 might correspond to around a
third
of the length of the lateral edge 28, such that the wings 29 are arranged to
carry the
majority of the weight of the user which will be experienced in the middle of
the mid-
section 25. To support the head end 26 and foot end 27 of the mid-section 25,
a
set of lines (ropes or straps) and load distributing webs 29a are provided
connected
to the lateral edges 28 of the mid-section 25. In the embodiment shown, the
hammock 20 comprises three sets of lines and load distributing webs 29a at the
head end 26, and four sets of lines and load distributing webs 29a at the foot
end
27. However, other arrangements are envisaged and it would be possible to
replace these with other configurations of lines, such as a single line and
load
distributing web 29a at one or each of the head end 26 and foot end 27. The
hammock 20 could also be adapted to include lines of adjustable length 34 in
order
to raise the shoulders and/or the knees of the user. It would also be possible
to
provide a two-person version of this hammock following similar principles to
those
described in relation to the hammock of Figures 17 to 20.
