US3321780A - Hammocks - Google Patents

Description

E. C. MORRIS May 30, 1967 HAMMOCKS Filed May 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [1 1/027 6. Mame/j BY lrrakA A'Y.

E. C. MORRIS May 30, 1967 HAMMOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1966 INVENTOR fizz/arr Ala/mu 5 C. MORRIS May 30, 1967 HAMMOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 13, 1966 a INVENTOR. 494/077 6 41mm: BY

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United States Patent 3,321,780 HAMMOKIKS Elliott C. Morris, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Gleason Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wiscousin Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,904!- 6 Claims. (Cl. -122) This invention relates to improvements in hammocks, and is a continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 471,329, filed July 12, 1965.

Conventional hammocks of the type herein concerned comprise a bed formed of woven fabric or canvas, or other suitable material, which bed is ordinarily suspended between the ends of a unitary frame or stand. it is also possible to suspend a hammock bed of the two-point suspension type between a pair of trees or other rigid supports, of course, and three-point hammocks (those having two spaced sets of supporting webs at the bed head end) can be readily modified for attachment between a pair of trees or the like by the use of a so-called adapter bar. An adapter bar is an elongated member which is designed to have both of the laterally-spaced sets of supporting webs at the head end of the hammock bed secured thereto, and is provided with a single hook or receiving element intermediate its length through which a rope can be projected and tied to the tree or other support.

In conventional hammocks the support webbing at the head and foot ends of the bed is formed by a single elongated string or cord and, unfortunately, the manual stringing of a single continuous cord or string to form said webbing is a tedious and time-consuming job which adds substantially to the manufacturing cost of the hammock. Moreover, in the event one of the strands in said stringing should be cut or worn either the bed must be replaced or the entire supporting web replaced, which is relatively expensive as well as an inconvenience.

With the above considerations in mind, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a novel hammock wherein the bed-supporting stringing is formed of a plurality of individual strings, in lieu of the single, continuous web string employed in conventional hammocks, and which individual webbing strings canbe assembled in a fraction of the time required to weave the single, elongated webbing string heretofore used. Moreover, the present bed-supporting stringing is stronger, and the strands can be individually replaced in the event one should become worn or broken, thus eliminating the necessity for replacing the bed, or the entire webbing therein. Said improved stringing assembly is claimed in my aforementioned pending patent application, Ser. No. 471,329, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

While the hammock bed may be suspended between a pair of trees or other fixed supports, as described, the trend in recent years is toward hammocks supported by a unitary metal frame or stand which can be readily shifted to any desired location in a yard. Such stands are usually formed principally of tubular steel, but they are provided with end portions formed of solid rod or bar stock in order to permit the welding of web-supporting hooks thereon. Unfortunately, said solid metal stock is more costly than hollow, tubular stock, and it also increases the weight of the stand, which impairs the portability of the unit and also increases shipping costs. Moreover, the welding of the hook members thereon is relatively expensive, and results in hook assemblies which are not always completely safe and reliable.

With the above in mind, another important object claimed in said prior application is to provide a new and improved hammock stand construction employing tubular stock throughout, thus reducing the manufacturing cost and also providing a lighter weight structure, and wherein the necessity for welding the web-supporting hooks thereon is eliminated, thereby further reducing costs and also providing a hook assembly which is stronger and more reliable than the welded hooks heretofore used.

A further object of the invention claimed in said prior application is to provide a novel hammock stand which is especially designed to minimize the possibility of water or dirt finding its way between the interfitting parts thereof and causing'rust or corrosion.

A further object is to provide a novel hammock stand provided with telescopically-fitted separable base rail portions which can be detached to facilitate the compact packaging of said stand for shipment or storage, and which telescopic fit permits independent adjustment of the leg angles at the head and foot ends of said stand.

Still further important objects of the invention are to provide an improved hammock wherein the novel stand structure can be advantageously used with existing hammock beds of various styles, and wherein the novel and improved bed featured in said invention can also be advantageously used with various makes and types of existing stands, as well as with fixed supports such as trees or the like.

While the structure embodying the above objects and advantages is disclosed and claimed in my prior pending application, Ser. No. 471,329, it is intended to include in this continuation-in-part application several modified forms of said structure which come within the scope of the invention. More specifically, what is intended to be included herein are several modified forms of stringing arrangements, as well as several bed-supporting means which may be utilized in lieu of stringing, which are designed to greatly speed and facilitate the assembly operation, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the hammock.

With the above and other objects in view, which other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter, the invention comprises the improved. hammock described in the following specification, and any and all modifications or variations thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention and several modified forms thereof, and wherein the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts in all of the views: 7 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved hammock comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the head end of the hammock;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the foot end of said hammock;

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing the stringing hook assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the method of connecting the individual web strings to the bed;

FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which the opposite end of said web strings are secured to the stand;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of bedsupporting assembly within the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the hammock shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another modified form of the invention;

FIG. 10 is :a top and FIG. 11 is a top plan view of still another modified form of the present invention.

plan view of another modified form;

Structure disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 471,329

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the improved hammock stand characterizing the present invention includes a pair of elongated ground-engaging base portions or rails and 11 which are preferably spaced apart, as shown, to provide a stable support and to permit said stand to be easily manually pushed about. In lieu of said split stand, however, it is also possible to utilize a stand having a one-piece base, and the invention is not to be limited in this respect. Formed at the head end of said stand are upwardly- angled leg members 12 and 13 which are interconnected by a cross bar or so-called header bar 14, and formed at the foot end of said stand are upwardly-converging leg members 15, 16 having an inverted V-shaped upper connecting member 17. As hereinabove mentioned, in conventional hammock stands of the type herein concerned the header bar 14 and inverted V member 17 are formed of solid rod or bar stock in order to provide strength and support for the welding of hook members thereon. In accordance with the present invention, however, the entire stand may be formed of tubular stock, including said end members 14, 17, with the attendant advantages hereinabove mentioned.

As best appears in FIG. 2, said tubular header bar 14 includes downwardly deflected end portions 14' which fit over the upper ends of the leg members 12, 13 in telescoping relation, and the inverted V member 17 at the foot end of the stand is telescoped over the upright legs 15, 16. The result is that water running down said stand cannot enter between said interfitting members and cause rust or corrosion to develop, as frequently occurs with conventional metal hammock stands wherein the upper members are telescopically fitted within the portions therebelow.

Another important feature in the present stand construction is that each of the base portions or rails 10 and 11 is preferably formed of a pair of telescopic sections which interfit as at 10, 11 (FIG. 1) and which may be separated to perm-it the compact packaging of said stand for shipment or storage, said sections having upwardly angled leg portions integral thereon, as shown. In addition, said telescopic fit permits independent adjustment of the leg angles at the head and foot ends of said stand.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, in accordance with'the present invention, a pair of spaced apertures 18 and 19 are formed completely through the tubular header bar 14, and removably mountable therein are hook members 21. Said hooks include a straight leg portion adapted to be projected into and through said tube opening and a curved hook portion designed to extend over and partially around said tube member, as shown. The inverted V member 17 at the foot end of the stand is also provided with an aperture therethrough, and mounted therein is a similar hook 21. Said hooks are manually insertable, as described, and once mounted within said tube members they will not inadvertently fall or work free of said mountings when the hammock is subjected to a load. In addition, self-locking attachments such as are well knownin the art can be utilized with said hooks to ensure that they will not fall out, even when the hammock stand is being shipped or stored. While a pair of spaced header bar apertures-and hook members have been illustrated and described, a third, intermediate aperture and interfitting hook can also be employed when desired, as when it is intended to use a swing bar adapter, and the invention is not be limited or confined in this respect.

As mentioned, the apertured tube members and insertable hook assembly hereinabove described is an important feature of the present invention inasmuch as it eliminates the necessity for employing solid metal stock in the stand, thereby reducing the cost and also providing a lighter structure. Moreover, said novel hook assembly makes it unnecessary to weld the stringing hooks onto the stand, which is far more expensive than forming holes in tubular stock, and it has been found that the present hook members are stronger and safer than the welded hooks heretofore used.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 6, a triangular ring 25 is carried by each of the hooks 21, said rings being formed of a single piece of wire arranged with its free ends overlapping at the apex. Thus there is provided a double thickness and strength at the point where said rings are engaged by the supporting hooks 21 when the hammock is assembled to minimize the possibility of said rings being bent or pulled apart under a heavy strain. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6 and as will be hereinafter described, said overlapping ring portions may be temporarily manually separated slightly to permit the insertion of the web strings therebetween, the resiliency of said wire material causing the ring to immediately close again. The triangular shape of said rings is advantageous in that it provides a relatively wide base portion for the attachment of the webbing strings thereto while permitting the provision of a double thickness at the apex, as described, but it is to be understood that this is not a critical feature of the invention and other ring shapes could also be utilized without departing from the intended scope of said invention. It has been found, for example, that an oval-shaped ring also performs satisfactorily so long as it is provided with a double, wrap-around joint, in lieu of a conventional welded seam which will frequently snap under pressure.

With respect now to the hammock bed, which is designated generally by the numeral 23, said bed may be formed of woven fabric or canvas duck, or any other suitable material, and in three-point hammocks it includes a head portion within which is sewn or otherwise secured a so-called spreader bar (not shonw) defining the width of said bed, any material beyond the ends of said bar falling downwardly to provide a valance 24 as shown. While the illustrated bed is designed for three-point suspension, it is also contemplated that the novel features of the present invention will have equal utility in two-point hammocks, as well as in those having four-point suspension, or socalled hammock lounges. In a two-point hammock the head end of the bed is not necessarily provided with a spreader bar, of course.

Formed on and along the edges at the head and foot end of the bed 23 are a plurality of closely-spaced loops 25, which are ordinarily several inches in length, the function of which loops is to provide means for securing the supporting stringing to the bed material, as will be described. As hereinabove mentioned, conventional hammock assemblies employ a single elongated cord or string which is woven between each of said loops and the stand to form a supporting web, and the weaving of said continuous web is a tedious and time-consuming task.

In accordance with the present invention, in lieu of the single elongated web string heretofore used, a plurality of individual strings 27 are utilized, each having its free ends tied together to form an endless looped string, as shown in FIG. 5. To secure said endless strings to the bed material it is merely necessary to insert one end thereof through one or more of said bed loops 25 (FIG. 5) and to then project the opposite end of said string through itself to form a noose 27 engaging said bed loop. Said string 27 may then be pulled to form a non-slip knot tightly engaging the bed loop, and the opposite end of said string secured to one of the supporting rings 26, as will be described. In lieu of the illustrated plain endless string 27, it is possible to also form an integral smaller loop therein, by tieing off a portion of said endless string, and then projecting the main string portion through the bed loop 25 and through its own integral loop to effect a noose which closely simulates conventional hammock stringing in appearance when the Webbing is taut. The important feature, however, is the concept of securing the bed loops by means of a noose formed of an endless looped string, and the exact method employed for tieing the same is not critical to the present invention, and the invention is not to be limited in this respect. While the endless string 27 illustrated in FIG. 5 is shown being inserted through and secured to a single bed loop 25, in order to clearly show the manner in which said members are joined, in actual practice it is preferred to project each string 27 through a number of said bed loops to provide an upwardly-converging web arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

To secure the opposite ends of the strings 27 to the supporting stand the free end portion of each of said looped strings is first looped upon itself and pulled through to form a noose 27", as shown in FIG. 6. The overlapping apex portion of one of the triangular rings 26 is then manually spread apart slightly, as illustrated, and said string noose 27" is mounted on said ring. Said string is then shifted around to the lower portion of the ring and pulled tight to form a non-slip knot, as shown in broken lines. While a single looped string 27 is shown mounted on the ring 26 in FIG. 6, for the sake of clarity, in actual practice a number of said strings are secured to each of said rings, as appears in FIG. 2.

The bed-supporting stringing at the foot end of the bed is similarly formed, as illustrated in FIG. 3, except that the bunching of said bed material necessitates the use of only one ring 26. Moreover, in the preferred form of the invention said ring 26 is supported by a chain 28 secured to the stringing hook 21 at the foot end of the stand. Said chain can be inserted into the ring 26 in the same manner as the stringing, the spring-like nature of said ring permitting the same to be temporarily opened, or, alternatively, a hook can be used on the lower end of said chain to secure the same to said ring. A selected link in said chain can be mounted on one of said hooks to provide the desired slack or tension on the bed, and thus permitting the user to set the same to correspond to his weight. If the hammock bed is to be suspended between trees or similar fixed supports a rope may be utilized in lieu of said chain assembly.

As previously mentioned, the use of a plurality of individual endless strings to form the bed-supporting webbing in the present structure, in lieu of the single continuous webbing string heretofore employed, is one of the important features of the invention. Not only is the assembly of said individual strings far less time-consuming than the weaving of a single continuous web, but it has been found that the present structure is stronger and more durable, and the replacement of said individual strings in the event of wear is easier and less time-consuming than replacing the entire web, and is considerably less costly than replacing the complete bed assembly.

From the foregoing detailed description of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 it will be seen that the present in vention provides a novel and improved hammock assembly which has several important advantages over prior hammocks. With the novel stand construction characterizing the present invention, for example, wherein said stand is formed entirely of tubular stock in lieu of the solid rod or bar stock used in the head and foot portions of conventional hammock stands, the assembly is not only rendered less expensive, but its lighter weight makes it more portable and reduces shipping costs. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to weld the stringing hooks onto said stand, as in conventional hammock stands, which is a costly and time-consuming operation, and which welded hooks are not entirely safe and reliable. In addition, the novel web-supporting ring members employed in the present structure are designed to permit the quick and easy attachment of the stringing, and said rings are designed to provide maximum strength at the point of greatest strain.

A further important feature of the present invention is that both the bed and stand members may be used with existing hammocks of various makes and types. The

novel bed and supporting web assembly characterizing the present invention can be advantageously utilized in a hammock supported by a conventional stand, or suspended between a pair of trees, for example, and the improved frame structure featured in the invention can be advantageously employed to support existing hammock beds of various makes and styles.

Still further advantages of the present invention are that the stand is so designed that water and dirt running down thereon cannot find its way into the interfitting portions of said stand and cause damaging rust or corrosion, Moreover, the assembled unit is neat and attractive in appearance, and it is extremely strong and durable.

Structure 0]" present continuationin-part application As hereinabove mentioned, the purpose of the present continuation-impart application is to disclose and claim several v-ariations of the principal form of the invention, and which modified forms of said invention will now be described.

Referring first to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a hammock having a frame including a pair of spaced, parallel ground-engaging portions or rails 10, 11, upwardly angled and converging forward leg members 12, 13 interconnected by an inverted V-shaped header element 104, and upwardly angled and converging rearward leg members 15', 16 interconnected by an inverted V-shaped end member 1W. Secured to each of said end members 104 and 11)! is a hook 951 and a ring 26. While the frames illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 include both hollow tubular and solid components, it is to be understood that a completely hollow tubular frame similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4 could also be utilized, including the telescopic rail assembly and the separable hooks, and the novel bed-supporting assemblies hereinafter described are by no means to be confined to use with frames and hook members, etc. identical to those ilustrated. In addition, while the reference numerals 12, 1'3, 15, 16, etc. corresponding to the numerals utilized in FIGS. 1-6 are used to designate the same general frame portions in FIGS. 7-11, it is to be understood that said frame elements are shown in various diiferent forms (both solid and tubular) in order to illustrate some examples of various frame structures which can be employed within the intended scope of the present invention. Moreover, while a twopoint hammock is shown in FIGS 7 and 8, it is to be understood that the bed-supporting assembly featured therein is equally well suited for use on threeor four-point hammocks.

The material forming the bed 109 in this form of the invention is folded under at the head end of said bed, the underturned edge being indicated at 123, and is sewn or secured together by grommets 110-113 surrounding four apertures spaced across the width of said bed. Said overlapped material forms a loop through which a spreader bar 124 is inserted, and in accordance with the invention the head portion of the bed is secured to the frame end member 104 by means of a single continuous cord 126 which is strung through said grommets 119-113 and through the ring 26. As shown in the drawings, said cord is provided with a knot 129 at one end which is formed on the underside of the bed, and said cord is inserted upwardly through the grommet 113 and strung through the ring 26. Said cord is then directed back to the bed and inserted downwardly through grommet 112, and is carried along the underside of the hammock bed and projected upwardly through grommet 111. The cord is then directed through the ring 26 again and then back to the bed and inserted downwardly through grommet 110, there being a knot 130 formed at the end of said cord on the underside of the bed to prevent the cord from being pulled free. Thus there is formed a simplified support webbing including only four spaced strands which can be quickly and easily threaded through the four receiving grommets, and which webbing is designed to provide a reliable support for the head end of the bed.

The foot end 131 of said bed 109 is folded under and is provided with spaced grommets 114-117. A cord 133 having a knot 135 at its end is threaded through grommet 117, through the ring 26, back through grommet 116, carried along the underside of the hammock bed and up wardly through'grommet 115, back through said ring 26, and is projected downwardly through grommet 114 and knotted as at 134. In lieu of having knots at each end of said cords 126, 133, it is also possible to run said cords across the width of the bed, on the underside thereof, and to connect the two ends of each cord with a single knot. This eliminates one of the knots at each end of the bed, and speeds and facilitates the assembly operation. In addition, metal clamps or the like can be utilized to ensure a reliable, non-slip connection.

The principal advantage of the simple, four-strand stringing arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, of course, is ease and quickness of assembly, which is important in minimizing manufacturing costs. With the illus trated single cord web it has been found that a workman can assemble the hammock in a fraction of the time required with conventional hammock designs, and the removal and replacement of said cord in the event of damage is also quick and simple. It is to be understood, of course, that a lesser or greater number of grommeted openings in the bed and corresponding web strands could be used in lieu of the illustrated four-strand arrangement, and the invention is by no means to be limited in this respect.

With reference now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, shown therein is a top plan view of another modified bed-supporting arrangement intended to be incorporated within the scope of the present invention. As will be seen, said modified support means includes a member 210 which can be formed of plastic or aluminum, or any other suitable metal or material, and which is provided with a first apex having an aperture 212 and a second apex having an aperture 212, said apertures being adapted to receive supporting hooks 21 carried'by the frame header bar 14. Said member 210 includes a plurality of diverging arms 211 which are not unlike conventional webbing strings in general appearance, and which arms are joined to an integral crossbar 213 provided with a plurality of apertures 214. Hooks 215 are carried in said apertures, and a plurality of web strings or loops Z16 diverging from each of said hooks are threaded through the canvas or other fabric forming the hammock bed 209 to secure said hammock bed to the member 210. In the illustrated form of the invention the head end of said hammock bed is turned under and sewn along line 217' to provide a hem loop through which spreader bar 217 is inserted, as shown, but it has been found that the use of said rigid connecting member 210 eliminates the bunching of the material at the head end of a three-point hammock and the spreader 217 can be omitted if desired.

At the foot end of the hammock illustrated in FIG. 9

v a member 218 formed of plastic or other suitable material is provided with an apex having an aperture 220 therein adapted to receive a hook 21 carried by the frame end member 207 (which can be solid as illustrated, or tubu lar), and said member 218 includes diverging legs 219 which are integral with a crossbar 221 having a plurality of spaced apertures 222. Hooks 224 are carried in said apertures, and a plurality of web strings or loops 225 diverging from said hooks are projected through the bed material or fabric to secure said hammock bed to the member 218. In lieu of connecting said members 210, 218 to the bed material by means of said webbing strands or loops 216, 225, it is also contemplated that said members could be connected directly to the material, and the invention is not to be limited or confined to the illustrated arrangement.

In the novel modified bed-supporting means illustrated in FIG. 9 it has been found that said connecting members 210, 218 are well adapted to perform their intended function and are relatively inexpensive in construction, thereby minimizing manufacturing costs.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of another modified form of the present invention wherein one end 311 of the hammock bed 309 is turned under and sewn along line 311 to provide a hem through which a wood or metal spreader bar 310 is inserted, and carried on the outer ends of said spreader bar are hooks 21 which are preferably inserted through holes provided therefor in said spreader bar, and which hooks are stapled or otherwise secured to said bar. Chains 312, 313 are secured to said hooks 21' and are also secured to hooks 21 carried by the frame header bar 14, thereby providing means for suspending the head end of the bed from said frame. The opposite end 316 of said hammock bed 309 is folded under and sewn along line 315 to form a hem having a loop therein, and the solid or tubular cross member 307 at the foot end of the hammock frame is inserted through the transverse opening or loop formed by said hem, thus securing said hammock bed to the frame. The tension on the hammock bed shown in FIG. 10 can be readily adjusted through the selection of the links in the chains 312, 313 which are engaged on the supporting hooks 21 or 21'. In this form of the invention the use of webbing strings is entirely eliminated, thereby facilitating the assembly of the hammock.

FIG. 11 illustrates another modified form of the invention wherein both ends of the hammock bed 409 are supported in the same manner as the end 316 of the hammock in FIG. 10. At the end 411 of said hammock bed the material is doubled under and sewn along line 410, and the U-shaped solid or tubular transverse bar 404 on the supporting frame is inserted between the layers of bed material forming said hem. The end 413 of said hammock bed is folded under and sewn along line 412, and the U- shaped frame member 407 is inserted through said hem as illustrated. In the assembly of this form of the invention, as well as in the assembly of the bed in FIG. 10, the frame end members 404, 407 are telescopically fitted into or over the frame legs and it is a relatively simple procedure to temporarily disconnect said end members from the frame to permit their insertion through the bedding material hems, and to then reassemble the same.

In addition to the above-described devices and methods for eliminating the necessity for bed-supporting stringing, it is also possible to insert an overlapping oval or triangular ring such as the ring 26 in FIG. 3, but substantially larger, through the transverse hem opening in the bed material, and to secure said ring directly to the hammock frame or other support without the use of stringing. Only the bed material will ordinarily be bunched on such a ring, of course, which may not ordinarily be desirable at the hammock head end (unless it is of the two-point type), but the use of such a ring is very advantageous at the foot end of a hammock bed, where the bed material is usually bunched anyway. Only the ring must be temporarily sprung open to permit the bed material to be mounted thereon, and when this has been accomplished said ring can be secured directly to a hook on the frame, or it can be secured to the frame or other support by means of a chain or rope, or the like.

' As will be appreciated, the modified forms of the present invention hereinabove described are intended to simplify the assembly of a hammock by eliminating the tedious, time-consuming and expensive chore of threading a multitude of closely-spaced individual webbing strands across the entire width of the hammock bed in order to secure said bed to the supporting frame, as in conventional hammocks. With the various simplified arrangements disclosed herein it has been found that the hammock can be assembled in a fraction of the time required to assemble a conventional hammock, thereby not only facilitating said assembly operation but substantially reducing the manufacturing cost of the hammock.

It is to be understood that various other modifications or variations of the present invention in addition to those illustrated herein will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to include herein not only the illustrated forms of the present invention but also any and all modified forms thereof as may come Within the spirit of said invention, and within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hammock structure including a supporting frame having a head end and a foot end, and having a hammock bed supported by and between said frame ends, said hammock bed having a head end and a foot end, the improvement comprising: a triangular rigid connector element at the head end of said hammock having a forward end adjacent said frame head end and having a base portion, a plurality of converging arms extending from said base portion, said connector being formed of fiat sheet material; means securing the head end of said bed to the base portion of said connector; and means removably securing the forward end of said connector to said frame head end.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein the apex of said connector has an aperture therethrough; and wherein hook means on said frame head end are provided for insertion through said connector aperture for remov ably securing said connector to said frame head end.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said connector base portion has a plurality of apertures therethrough, and wherein the means securing the bed head end to said connector include a plurality of strings extending from said bed through said connector base apertures.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 and including a similar connector element at the foot end of said hammock securing the foot end of said bed to said frame.

5. The structure recited in claim 4 wherein said similar connector has a pair of spaced apexes formed at said forward end and a relatively wider base.

6. The structure recited in claim 5 wherein said similar connector includes a plurality of arms diverging outwardly from each of said apexes to said base portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,045 1/1926 Sommer 5-12 X 2,062,069 11/1936 Powers 5-123 2,104,917 1/ 1938 Tischler 5-129 2,450,689 10/ 1948 Richmond 5-129 2,569,596 10/1951 Anderegg 5-129 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,562 10/1914 Great Britain. 221,560 8/ 1947 Switzerland.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner, R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. IN A HAMMOCK STRUCTURE INCLUDING A SUPPORTING FRAME HAVING A HEAD END AND A FOOT END, AND HAVING A HAMMOCK BED SUPPORTED BY AND BETWEEN SAID FRAME ENDS SAID HAMMOCK BED HAVING A HEAD END AND A FOOT END, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A TRIANGULAR RIGID CONNECTOR ELEMENT AT THE HEAD END OF SAID HAMMOCK HAVING A FORWARD END ADJACENT SAID FRAME HEAD END AND HAVING A BASE PORTION, A PLURALITY OF CONVERGING ARMS EXTENDING FROM

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