US964452A - Hammock and stretcher or spreader therefor. - Google Patents

Description

I. E. PALMER.

HAMMOCK AND STRETGHER OR SPREADER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1910.

964,52, Patented July.12,1910.

THEJVORRIS PETERS co.. WASNINGION, n. c.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB. TO THE I. E. PALMER 00., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HAMMOCK AND STRETCHER OR SPREADER THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial No. 555,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMEm'a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Hammocks and Stretchers or Spreaders Therefor, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to hammocks and stretchers or spreaders therefor.

In order that the principle of the invention may readily be understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a. plan view of the foot end of a hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a. transverse section upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the foot end of the hammock shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of my invention.

Hammock stretchers or spreaders as commonly employed are applied to the head and foot ends of a hammock and are usually unitary and substantially rigid. lVhen the occupant of a hammock provided with such spreaders at either the head or foot end or both, changes his position in the hammock, one or both of the spreaders shifts as an entirety. If, therefore, one end of a spreader be tilted up, the opposite end is tilted down and conversely. In other words, a change in position of any part of the spreader necessitates a change in position of the entire spreader and consequent deflection of the hammock throughout its entire width to the discomfort of the occupant. It is particu larly desirable that the contour or outline of the hammock at the foot end may be changed at one or more points without changing the entire contour, as, for example, when the occupant shifts the position of his feet or turns from side to side.

In accordance with my invention, I provide at one or both ends, but particularly at the foot end of the hammock, a sectional spreader, the members whereof are wholly disconnected from each other, excepting in so far as they may be connected by the clue cords. Preferably, the spreader is inserted in a transverse pocket and the ends of the sections are sufiiciently close together so that the strain of hammock support is evenly distributed throughout the entire width of the hammock. Owing to the fact that the sections of the spreader are disconnected, they may assume very abrupt angles with respect to each other to conform to the position of the occupant. 13y reason of the employment of the disconnected spreader sections, the hammock body is permitted to bag or yield under the weight of the foot of the occu- )illlt without disturbing or altering the general outline of the hammock through its entire width. Moreover, the hammock body adjacent the sectional spreader may bag downward at one point and upward at another point, or in other words the hammock may assume an irregular transverse outline to conform to the strain to which it is subjected at various points transversely thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the body of the hammock is represented at 1. To one or both ends thereof are attached clue or suspension cords 2 extending to a supporting ring 3, or if desired a stretcher bar t may be employed interme diate the hammock body and the supporting ring. At either the head or foot end of the hammock or both, but particularly at the foot end, I provide a sectional spreader, preferably inserted in a pocket, indicated in dotted lines at 5 in Fig. 1.

The sectional spreader may be constructed in any suitable way, the sections thereof being disconnected from each other, excepting in so far as they may be connected by the clue cords. In Fig. 2, Ihave indicated one form of sectional spreader, the same being composed of a series of wire links 6 having eyes 7 at opposite ends. The supporting cords 2 are connected to the spreader sections by cords 8-8 as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. If desired, a single cord 8 may extend from side to side of the hammock and be successively knotted or otherwise attached to the clue cords 2 and the spreader sections 6, or the cords 8 of one spreader section may be wholly distinct and independent of those connected to the other sections or certain of them. For simplicity of stringing the hammock, however, I preferably employ a cord 8 extending from one edge of the hammock to the opposite edge, and therefore passing from one spreader section to the next, as indicated at 99 in Fig. 2, the said cord 8 being passed through the hammock body and through the eyes 7 of the spreader sections. The said spreader sections 6 are preferably closely adj acent each other, so that the strain of hammock support is borne by substantially all portions of the hammock transversely thereof. It is not necessary that each spreader section be connected to the clue cords at a plurality of points, as the clue cords or the cords 8 may be connected to each spreader section at but a single point, but it is desirable that the strain of hammock support be transmitted by the spreader sections throughout substantially the entire width of the hammock.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention. Therein each spreader section is formed of a preferably wooden strip 10 having holes 1111 at opposite ends for the reception of the cords 8S. The ends of adjacent spreader sections are close together, so that the strain of hammock support is distributed as previously described. The said spreader sections 10 are preferably inserted in a single transverse pocket, as previously described, and may be supported in any suitable manner from the clue cords. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that either the head or foot end of the hammock or both, but particularly the foot end, is so supported by the sectional spreaders that any part of the hammock at such end or ends may be altered in conformity to the position of the occupant without necessitating a change in the entire contour of the hammock end. Moreover the strain of hammock support is by the sectional spreaders distributed throughout substantially the entire width of the hammock. The spreaders are cheaply and readily manufactured and may readily be inserted in the usual transverse pockets provided at one or both ends thereof.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. A hammock having at an end thereof a transverse pocket, a spreader therein consisting of end sections and intermediate sections, suspension cords connected to each of said sections and also connecting said sections together, and constituting the only connection therebetween.

2. A hammock having at an end thereof a transverse pocket, a spreader therein consisting of end sections and one or more intermediate sections, and suspension cords penetrating said pocket and connected to each of said sections, whereby the strain of hammock suspension is distributed among and partially borne by each of said sections.

3. Ahammock havingasectional spreader and stringing means for suspending the hammock and constituting the only means for connecting said sections together.

4. A hammock having at an end thereof a transverse pocket, a spreader therein consisting of end sections and a plurality of intermediate sections, said sections being out of contact with each other, and suspension cords connected to said end sections and to one or more intermediate sections, whereby the strain of hammock support is borne by said sections.

5. A hammock having a transverse pocket and a sectional spreader positioned therein and hammock stringing means for support ing the hammock and also for connecting said sections together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses:

FRED E. FOWLER, GEO. C. HAINS.

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