WO2006081607A1

WO2006081607A1 - Hammock stand

Info

Publication number: WO2006081607A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Askey-Doran
Original assignee: Joseph Askey-Doran
Priority date: 2005-02-04
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2006-08-10

Abstract

A hammock stand (10) including a pair of elongate supports (11, 12) for supporting a hammock. Each of the supports (11, 12) has a first region A to which opposite ends of a hammock can be attached, and a second region remote from the first region which is secured to a base arrangement (14). Anchoring means (17) is connected to a first of the supports and extends therefrom for connection to an anchoring point. The supports (11, 12) each define an acute angle with a supporting surface and extend away from each other in substantially opposite directions, so that the first regions of the supports are spaced apart a greater distance than the second regions. When a load is placed on a hammock (18) which is strung between the supports (11, 12) the load imposed on the supports (11, 12) tends to cause the supports (11, 12) to rotate about the base arrangement (14) towards each other, and whereby the anchoring means (17) is operable to limit rotation of the support (11, 12) to which it is attached.

Description

HAMMOCK STAND

The present invention relates to a new and unique form of hammock arrangement, in particular a hammock stand for supporting a hammock.

Hammock stands which are known to the Applicant, typically include a frame which supports the weight of a person seated or laying in the hammock. See for example WO 2004/047587 entitled "CoHapsible Hammock Stand" and US Patent No. 6,711 ,764. Each of these references disclose a hammock supported on a hammock stand and each stand is constructed of sufficient strength to fully support the weight of a person positioned within the hammock.

The Applicant has found that often and because of their construction, prior art hammock stands have framework which is high strength in order to support the weight within a hammock. This can make the stands bulky and heavy and difficult to carry. Moreover, such. stands are required to be fitted together securely and this often means that they are not collapsible. Some such stands can be dismantled, but dismantling is time consuming and often difficult and therefore limits the ability to conveniently transport and store the stand.

Applicant has therefore identified the desirability to provide a hammock stand which has a construction that is a more lightweight frame compared to the stands known to it. Applicant has further identified the desirability to provide a hammock stand which can be easily dismantled or collapsed for convenient transport and storage.

According, to the present invention there is provided a hammock stand including: a pair of elongate supports for supporting a hammock above a supporting surface on which the hammock stand is placed, each of the supports having a first region to which opposite ends of a hammock can be attached, and each support having a second region remote from the first region which is secured to a base arrangement, anchoring means connected to a first of the supports and extending therefrom for connection to an anchoring point, in an in use condition, the supports each define an acute angle with the supporting surface and extend away from each other in substantially opposite directions, so that the first regions of the supports are spaced apart a greater distance than the second regions whereby when a load is placed on a hammock which is strung between the supports in attachment with the first regions thereof, the load imposed on the supports tends to cause the supports to rotate about the base arrangement towards each other, and whereby the anchoring means is operable to limit rotation of the support to which it is attached.

It is preferred that one or each of the elongate supports is formed by an elongate strut or rod. Preferably the strut or rod is tubular, preferably cylindrical and preferably of aluminium, although other metals, plastic, carbon fibre or even wood would be used.

In one form, the supports are each formed by a single elongate rod, although in the preferred arrangement, at least one, but preferably both of the supports are formed by a pair of elongate rods which are substantially the same length and which are connected at an angle to define a triangular configuration. In this arrangement, the first region is the region of the support which is at or adjacent the connection of the pair of rods, while the second region is formed at or adjacent the ends of the pair of rods remote from the first region. In this arrangement, each support has two rod ends and it is preferred that it is those rod ends which are secured to the base arrangement. Thus the hammock stand has a pair of triangular supports each formed of two elongate rods which are arranged so that in use, the spaced apart ends of the rods are secured to the base arrangement.

The angle between the rods can be variable or fixed. Variable spacing can be achieved by connecting the rods together pivotably in a manner to alter the angle between them. Any suitable connection, such as a knuckle connection could be employed for that purpose. It is preferred that the angle variation have a maximum limit, and for this, a flexible web may be attached to the rods, preferably at the rod ends thereof, such that the spacing between them is limited by the maximum length of the web. A suitable buckle could be applied to the web to alter its length, although the principal reason for providing angular variation is to facilitate collapsing of the rods from their triangular configuration to a position in which the elongate rods of each support are substantially parallel, to enable more convenient transport and storage of the hammock stand and therefore variation of the length of the web is not necessarily required, rather it is the flexibility of the web that enables the rods to be collapsed.

Instead of a web of the kind discussed above, any other flexible member could be used, such as a rope or cord. A rigid member could also be employed, but if the rods are to be collapsed together, it would be necessary for the rigid member to be disengagable from at least one of the rods, or from both. In one arrangement, a rigid member could be pivotably attached to one rod and be disengagable from the other, so that for collapsing of the rods together, the rigid member is disengaged from one of the rods and is pivoted to a position in which it is substantially parallel to the rod to which it is connected. By maintaining the rigid member pivotably connected to one of the rods of the support, the likelihood of the rigid member being separated from the hammock stand, i.e. lost, is very unlikely. This is very important to a hammock stand of this kind, which is intended to be lightweight, easy to assemble and easy to carry, because parts of the stand which are not secured to other parts, are more likely to be misplaced or lost, thus defeating the convenience of use of the hammock stand.

The supports can be of any suitable length sufficient to support a hammock above the supporting surface. The total length of each support can be in the region of 150cm to 250cm, preferably about 170cm. To reduce the length of the supports for transport and storage, the supports can be formed of two or more portions that connect together, such as telescopically connectable rod portions. The telescopic connection may allow the length of the supports to be varied, such as to suit hammocks of different sizes. The rod portions of a support may be connected together in a disassembled condition by a joining member to prevent the rod portions to be separated fully from each other in their disconnected state and to aid ease of assembly by clearly identifying which rod portions are to be connected together and at which ends. In one arrangement, the rod portions are tubular and the joining member is an elastic cord which extends at least partly through each rod portion. In this arrangement, the elastic cord can be in tension when the rod portions are disconnected, so that the cord guides the correct ends of the rod portions together when they are being connected.

Instead of telescopic connection, the rods could be formed of rod portions which are hinged together. The hinges can be such that they hinge in one direction only, so that the rods remain expanded under a load applied to a hammock supported by the hammock stand, but the rods can be collapsed when the hammock stand is to be transported or stored. In this arrangement, sleeves can be provided to engage about the hinges to prevent them hinging when the rods are expanded, while the sleeves can be removed or shifted along the rods away from the hinges to allow the hinges to hinge for collapse of the rods when required.

The supports can take other forms and for example, the triangular supports described above could be employed in an inverted form, in which the connection between the rods forms the second region which is secured to the anchor arrangement and the rod ends form the first region to which the hammock is attached. In other arrangements, supports of different configuration can be employed. For example, one or each support could be in the form of an elongate plate having any suitable shape such as triangular or rectangular, or could be formed by rods assembled to have an elongate rectangular configuration. In one embodiment, the base arrangement includes separate base parts for securing each of the second regions of each support, but more preferably the respective second regions are secured at a common base. The supports may be rigidly connected to the base arrangement, but preferably the connection to the base arrangement is a pivotable connection. The base arrangement can thus comprise a pivotable connection to which the second region of each support can be secured in any suitable manner. In the preferred arrangement, the supports each include a pair of elongate rods connected together to form a triangular configuration of the kind described above, and the second region of each support is comprised of the ends of the elongate rods remote from the connected portion of the pair of rods. In this arrangement, the base arrangement includes a pair of base ends and each base part secures a pair of rod ends of two respective supports. By this arrangement, hammock load which is reacted through the supports is reacted at the end of each of a pair of rods at a respective base part. This arrangement facilitates a significant structural advantage over prior art hammock stands known to Applicant, because the anchoring means employs a fixing point external or separate from the supports to react the load applied to the supports. Thus, the supports are not required to absorb the entire load applied to the hammock and therefore the strength requirements of the supports of the hammock of the invention are lower than the prior art known to the Applicant. Accordingly, the weight of the supports can be reduced and their construction can be made collapsible.

Pivotable connection of the supports facilitates collapsing of the supports for transport and storage, but additionally and importantly, it allows for movement of the supports when a load is applied to a hammock supported by the hammock stand. Generally, the hammock stand will be in a relaxed state when supporting an unloaded hammock and in this state, the elongate supports will be unloaded and the anchoring means will be under little or no tension. When a load is applied to the hammock, the load will act on the supports in a direction tending to rotate the supports about the base arrangement given that the hammock ends will tend to rotate the supports inwardly and upwardly, and this will impose or increase the tensile load in the anchoring means. Where the anchoring means is flexible, such as a rope, cord or strap, there will likely be a straightening or stretching of the anchoring means between the relaxed state and the increased tensile load and this will allow inward and upward rotating movement of one or both of the supports. If the supports are rigidly fixed to the base arrangement, then the supports are likely to flex, and while that could be acceptable with supports of suitable construction and material selection, the preferred alternative is to accommodate the rotating movement of the supports by connecting them pivotably to the base arrangement. Pivotable connection of the supports also advantageously allows the hammock stand to be collapsed into a configuration for ease of transport and storage.

The pivoting connection can take any suitable form, such as the form applied to pivotably connect the rods of a support at the first region thereof. Alternatively, the pivoting connection can include a pair of pivotable members and a base plate connected to the pivoting members which provides for stable mounting on the supporting surface. The base plate can be arranged to be secured to the supporting surface, or to rest on it. Securing could include fastening the base plate to a timber, paved or cement surface, by threaded fasteners, nails, or other suitable fastener. The base plate can be a flat plate of any suitable shape, such as round, square or rectangular, and can be of any suitable size. If the base plate is intended to support the hammock stand on a loose ground surface, such as sand, the size of the plate can be larger than if it is to support the hammock stand on a stable surface, such as paving. The base plate can include a pair of upstanding side walls extending therefrom which support an axle about which the pivotable members can pivot relative to the base plate.

In order to minimise or eliminate movement of the supports under load, the anchoring means can be a rigid member, such as a metal member, and could be of the same form and material as the elongate supports. The length of the rigid member can be adjustable if required. The rigid member could, for example, be telescopic. However, the use of flexible anchoring means such as that described above, potentially provides a wider range of fixing points to which the anchoring means can be fixed. In many cases, the hammock stand will be placed on a sand beach, or a grassed area, and in that case, the anchoring means can be easily fixed by a peg which is driven through a clip or eyelet in one end of the anchoring means and into the sand or grass, or the anchoring means can be attached by a suitable clip to a peg which has or will be driven into the ground. However, the hammock stand could equally be placed where the anchoring point is a railing, post, tow bar, tree or rock, or some other object. A flexible anchoring means can be looped around or tied to such objects and in the preferred arrangement, the flexible anchoring means is variable lengthwise to increase or decrease the length of the anchoring means as required.

The present invention further extends to an arrangement in which the hammock stand includes the anchoring point or points to which the anchoring means is fixed or anchored. In this arrangement, a bracing arrangement is provided in connection with the hammock stand, and to which the anchoring means can be fixed. In one form, the bracing arrangement includes an elongate bracing member which extends in a lengthwise direction of the hammock stand, i.e. in the direction of a line extending between the first regions of the elongate supports. The bracing member can be connected to the elongate supports directly or indirectly. In one arrangement in which at least one of the elongate supports includes a second region having a pair of rod ends which are spaced apart, the hammock stand includes a lateral member which extends laterally between the rod ends, in engagement therewith, and the bracing member is fixed to the lateral member and extends generally perpendicular thereto. By connecting the bracing member to the hammock stand, the bracing member can be fixed against lifting and the anchoring means can be fixed to the bracing member to perform its function. Preferably the bracing member is connectable to anchoring means in connection with each of the elongate supports. Preferably the bracing member has a lengthwise extent sufficient for each end thereof to be positioned against the supporting surface at lease midway between the first and second regions of each support, and preferably closer to the first region. The bracing arrangement can include any suitable arrangement for connection with the anchoring means. For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be performed, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hammock stand and hammock according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hammock stand according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figures 3, 3a and 4 illustrate pivoting connections for use with embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a hammock stand according to one embodiment of the invention in a collapsed condition.

Figure 6 illustrates a hammock and hammock stand according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a hammock and hammock stand according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a hammock and hammock stand and further includes a sunshade in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate further detail of the sunshade illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 1 shows schematically, in perspective view, a hammock stand 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hammock stand 10 includes a pair of supports 11 and 12 and each of these supports comprises a pair of elongate rods or struts 13 which define a triangular configuration. The rods 13 can be of any suitable material but the preference is that they are of tubular aluminium. In Figure 1 , the rods 13 are shown rigidly connected at the apexes A and that rigid connection can be by welding or bolting. In an alternative and preferred arrangement, the rods 13 are pivotably connected at their apexes A and such a connection will be discussed later herein in relation to Figure 4. The connection of each pair of rods 13 at the apex A, forms a first region of the supports 11 and 12, and the rods 13 extend outwardly at an angle from the apex A to a base arrangement, which comprises a pair of base parts 14. The rod ends 15 form a second region of the supports 11 and 12. The base parts 14 anchor each of the rod ends 15 either rigidly in position, or pivotably, and the base parts 14 are connected by a connecting member 16, which can be a rigid or a flexible member. For example, the connecting member 16 could be a rigid rod which extends between the respective anchors 14, or it could be a flexible web, such as a fabric web. A fabric web is preferred.

Anchoring means extends from each apex A, and the anchoring means 17 of Figure 1 is shown in broken outline and can take the form of a rigid rod, although more preferably, the anchoring means 17 is in the form of a flexible cord, strap, web or rope. The anchoring means 17 extends to an anchoring point which in Figure 1 , would be the surface on which the hammock stand 10 is supported. That surface could for example, be a grassed area, or a sandy area, such as the beach, or alternatively it could be a timber, concrete or paved surface. It will be appreciated, that the means by which the ends of the anchoring means 17 remote from the apex A are fixed to the supporting surface, depends on the type of supporting surface upon which the hammock stand is placed. Where the supporting surface is a grassed area or sand, then the connection may be by way of a peg 41 which is driven into the grass or sand. Where the surface is timber, concrete or paved, then alternative arrangements for connecting the anchoring means 17 would be required, such as eyelets which are fixed into the supporting surface.

It is alternatively acceptable that the anchoring means 17 extends not to the supporting surface on which the hammock stand 10 is placed, but instead, to an alternative fixing point. Figure 1 illustrates anchoring means 17' and 17" and this shows the anchoring means extending away from the apex A for fixing to alternative points, such as a tree or post, a wall, the tow bar of a car, a fence or railing, or any other suitable point of anchoring.

Figure 1 also shows in phantom, a hammock 18 which is shown extending from each of the first regions or apexes A of the supports 11 and 12. The hammock 18 is intended to support a child or adult and such a child or adult can lie lengthwise between the apexes A or laterally thereto. In each case, the majority of the weight of the child or adult usually will be located over the connecting member 16. In either case, when a load is placed on the hammock 18, in the absence of the anchoring means 17, each of the supports 11 and 12 would tend to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows 19. However, the anchoring means 17 counters the tendency to rotate and retains the supports 11 and 12 against shifting in that direction.

A hammock stand in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be formed without the base parts 14 and an example of that form of the invention is shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 illustrates a hammock stand 20 which is formed from bent metal tube 21. The stand 20 may be formed of a plurality of tube sections, and for example the end sections 22 may be formed separately from and connected telescopically to respective body sections 23. The hammock stand 20 also includes anchoring means 24 which have the same role as the anchoring means 17 of Figure 1.

The hammock stand 20 is operable to flex when a weight is placed on the hammock 25 and the anchoring means 24 substantially retains the tube 21 from flexing inwardly at each end thereof under that load. The hammock stand 20 is similar to the hammock stand 10 of Figure 1 , in that each of the body sections 23 includes a pair of oppositely extending support sections 26 which converge towards engagement with the end sections 22 and which diverge towards apexes 28. However in the hammock stand 20, the body sections 23 remain continuous through the apexes 28 which is in contrast to the hammock 10 in which the rod ends 15 are connected to the base part 14. The hammock stand 20 can be dismantled if it is formed of a plurality of tube sections and it can be manufactured of materials other than aluminium tube. Other materials include plastic or other metals, or materials such as carbon fibre.

Returning to the hammock stand 10 of Figure 1 , the base parts 14 can have any suitable form such as that shown in Figure 3. In that arrangement, the base part 14 is a hinged joint 30 which includes a pair of side plates 31 which are spaced apart on opposite sides of respective rod ends 15 of the rods 13. Pins 32 extend through the side plates 31 and the rod ends 15, to pivotably connect the rod ends 15 to the side plates 31. By this arrangement, the rods 13 can pivot relative to the side plates 31.

An alternative version of the hinged joint 30 is illustrated in Figure 3a, in which the rod ends 15a are connected to a pivoting arrangement 45, which includes a pair of discs 46 disposed between a pair of side plates 47 which extend from a base plate 48. A pin 49 extends through the side plates 47 and the discs 46 and forms an axle about which the discs 46, and the rod ends 15a, rotate.

The rods 13 can also be hingedly connected at the apexes A, and Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of such a pivoting arrangement. In that arrangement, the upper ends 34 of the rods 13 are received in a pivotable device 35 which includes a pair of tubular arms 36 which are arranged to receive the upper ends 34 and which are each connected to one of a pair of discs 37, 38 which are fixed together co-axially to rotate about a pin 39. The pin 39 fixes the discs 37, 38 axially, but allows pivoting movement between them.

The tubular arms 36 thus can pivot with a respective one of the discs 37 and 38 relative to the other of the discs 37 and 38.

By constructing the hammock 10 with the hinged joint 30 and the pivotable device 35, the hammock 10 advantageously is collapsible to a position shown in Figure 5. Moreover, if the rods 13 are formed in two or more parts which fit together telescopically, then the height H of the collapsed hammock 10 can be reduced approximately in half or to one third. This facilitates ease of transport and storage, and in the preferred arrangement in which the rods 13 are manufactured from aluminium tube, the hammock stand 10 is lightweight and easily liftable by a child or adult. Moreover, it is a simple matter to erect the hammock stand 10, by spreading the rod ends 15 of adjacent rods 13 away from each other to the point at which the connecting member 16 (Figure 1 ) is taut, and then pivoting the rods 13 about the hinged joint 30 so that the pair of rods 13 of the support 11 extend in the opposite direction to those of the support 12. At that point, it is appropriate for a hammock 18 to be connected to the apexes A, although in a preferred arrangement, the hammock 18 is permanently connected to the apexes A and erection of the stand 10 brings the hammock 18 to the position shown in Figure 1. For permanent connection, the hammock 18 may include a rope or cord connection 40 which is tied at the apexes A and in one arrangement, the pins 39 of the pivotable devices 35 are hollow for receipt therethrough of the rope or cord 40.

With the hammock 10 in the condition shown in Figure 1 , anchoring means can be connected at the apexes A and can be fixed in place at a suitable anchoring point, such as to the ground or to a tree or other structure such as described above. Like the hammock 18, the anchoring means 17 can be permanently connected to the hammock stand 10 to again simplify the manner in which the hammock stand 10 is erected.

The anchoring means 17 can include a ring, eyelet or clip 41 at the end remote from the apex A to receive or attach to a peg or other form of anchoring device. Where the hammock stand 10 is placed on a ground surface, such as a grassed surface, then a simple peg, such as that used for tents, could be used to anchor the anchoring means 17 to that ground surface. Where the hammock stand 10 is placed on a sandy surface, then a suitable coiled sand peg could alternatively be used. For fastening the anchoring means 17 to a structure, such as paving or timber decking, a suitable releasable clip might be employed, or the anchoring means 17 could be of variable length so that it can be tired around a post or decking member, or the like. The hammock stands 10 and 20 can be used as long as one or both of the anchoring means 17, 24 can be fixed to a suitable fixing point. However in an alternative arrangement, the invention provides a freestanding embodiment and such an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6. In Figure 6, a hammock stand 50 is illustrated which includes supports 51 and 52 which each include a pair of rods 53 which converge to pivotable devices 54 at each end, and hinged joints 55 at the other ends. Each hinged joint 55 takes the form of the pivotable device 35 (previously described), but further includes a plate 56 for stable resting of the hinged joint 55 on a surface. The plate 56 can be of any suitable size and shape and can for example include openings for receipt of fasteners for fastening the joints 55 to a surface, such as a timber deck.

A web 57 is shown extending between the pair of hinged joints 55 and also extending between those joints is a rod 58. The rod 58 is connected to the hinged joints 55 by any suitable connection and for example, the hinged joints 55 may each include an opening which receives a respective end of the rod 58. In the embodiment illustrated, the web 57 performs the function of defining the maximum spacing between the hinged joints 55. In this embodiment, the rod 58 does not perform that function, although in an alternative embodiment, the rod 58 could perform that function and the web 57 could be omitted. In either embodiment, the rod 58 is fixed to the hammock stand 50 by connection to the hinged joints 55.

With the rod 58 in place as shown, a bracing arrangement 60 can be fixed to the rod 58 by way of a threaded fastener 61. The threaded fastener 61 threads through the main bar 62 of the bracing arrangement 60 and into a threaded opening (not shown) in the rod 58.

The main bar 62 extends in a direction transverse to the rod 58 and at either end of the bar 62, is a pair of transversely extending feet 63. Each of the feet 63 include a connecting loop 64 to which anchoring means 65, in the form of a cord or strap, can be connected. One end of the anchoring means 65 is connected to the loop 64 and the other end is connected to the pivotable device 54. The same arrangement can be made at the opposite end of the hammock stand 50.

By use of the bracing arrangement 60, the hammock stand 50 can be erected in a stable manner for attachment of a hammock 66 thereto and for a load to be supported within the hammock 66, without requiring fixing points of the kind described earlier. In this embodiment, the fixing point or points are provided by the bracing arrangement 60, in the form of the loops 64.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 7. In Figure 7, a hammock stand 70 is illustrated to which is applied a hammock 71. The hammock stand 70 includes supports 72 and 73 each of which are connected at one end to the bar 74 of a bracing arrangement 75. The supports 72 and 73 are connected to the bar 74 pivotably, by connection to a pair of plates 76 that extend on either side of the bar 74 and are connected to the bar 74 by a pin 77. The supports 72 and 73 extend from the bar 74 in opposite directions and at an acute angle α to the bar 74. Anchoring means 78 extend between upper ends of the supports 72 and 73 in connection therewith, to end sections 79 of the bracing arrangement 75. The pairs of end sections 79 disposed at each end of the bar 74, diverge outwardly and the pair of anchoring means 78 which extend from each of the supports 72 and 73 stabilise the supports in their correct orientation.

Figure 8 illustrates a hammock stand 80 which is similar in construction to the hammock stand 10 of Figure 1. The hammock stand 80 includes supports 81 and 82 which extend to base parts 83 in pivotable connection therewith and a hammock 84 is strung between ends 85 of the supports 81 , 82 remote from the base parts 83. Anchoring means 86 extends from each of the ends 85 and the anchoring means 86 are anchored to a ground surface 87 by sand anchors 88. In the embodiment of Figure 8, a sun shade 89 is attached to the hammock stand 80 to overlie the hammock 84 and to provide sun protection for a child or adult seated within the hammock 84. Figure 9 shows the sun shade 89 in partly disassembled plan view, and in that figure, it can be seen that the sun shade 89 includes a pair of generally triangular portions 90 and 91 and each of these includes a connection end 92 for connecting the sun shade 89 to the hammock stand 80 or to the hammock 84. Each connection end 92 can take the form illustrated in Figure 10 which includes a strap 93 extending from the triangular portions 90, 91 and connected thereto is a plastic clip 94 and in that Figure 10 arrangement, it is intended that the clip 94 be connectable to an end of the hammock 84. Other attachment arrangements could equally be employed.

The triangular portions 90 and 91 are intended to be connected together along base edges 95 thereof preferably by stitching, and along the edge 95 of the portion 90 a plurality of loops 96 are applied and these are intended for receipt of a flexible pole 97 (Figure 8), and each end of the pole 97 is intended for capture within pockets provided at each end of the base edge 95. This arrangement is illustrated more clearly in Figure 11 in which one end of the pole 97 is illustrated for insertion into a pocket 98 which is sewn or adhesively applied onto the portion 90 of the sun shade 89. When the pole 97 is inserted through the loops 96 and into the pockets 98, the sun shade 89 will take a concave form overlying the hammock 84.

If further stability for the sun shade 89 is required, then the pockets 98 can extend to loops for receipt of guy ropes and Figure 12 illustrates this arrangement. In Figure 12, the pole 97 is shown received within the pocket 98 and a fabric loop 99 extends from the pocket 98 for receipt of a guy rope which can subsequently be attached to the ground or an alternative fixing point. By guy roping the sun shade 89 on one but preferably both ends of the pole 97, the sun shade 89 can be stabilised against significant movement, such as may be caused by wind.

The sun shade 89 can be manufactured of lightweight, non-stretch UV proof material to provide adequate shade. Alternatively, the shade can be manufactured from waterproof material to offer rain protection in addition. A hammock according to the present invention and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, can be conveniently collapsed into a form which is lightweight and easy to transport and carry. Moreover, the use of the anchoring means minimises the structure of the hammock stand and in its most simple form, it can simply comprise a pair of elongate supports and anchoring means depending from only one but preferably both of the first regions of the two supports. Thus, the present invention provides a less complex form of hammock stand, which supports the weight of an individual adequately and which provides significant convenience for transport and storage.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hammock stand including: a pair of elongate supports for supporting a hammock above a supporting surface on which the hammock stand is placed, each of the supports having a first region to which opposite ends of a hammock can be attached, and each support having a second region remote from the first region which is secured to a base arrangement, anchoring means connected to a first of the supports and extending therefrom for connection to an anchoring point, in an in use condition, the supports each define an acute angle with the supporting surface and extend away from each other in substantially opposite directions, so that the first regions of the supports are spaced apart a greater distance than the second regions whereby when a load is placed on a hammock which is strung between the supports in attachment with the first regions thereof, the load imposed on the supports tends to cause the supports to rotate about the base arrangement towards each other, and whereby the anchoring means is operable to limit rotation of the support to which it is attached.

2. A hammock stand according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring means is connected to the first region of the first of the elongate supports.

3. A hammock stand according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring means is connected to each of the supports and extends from each support to separate fixing points.

4. A hammock stand according to claim 3, wherein the anchoring means is connected to the first region of each of the supports.

5. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first region of a support is the region at or adjacent the end of the support remote from the second region.

6. A hammock stand according to any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein the elongate supports are pivotably connected to the base arrangement.

7. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the elongate supports has a triangular configuration comprising a pair of elongate rods which are substantially of the same length and which are connected at one end at an angle, the support having the first region at or adjacent the connection of the pair of elongate rods and having the second region at or adjacent the free ends of the rods remote from the connection.

8. A hammock stand according to claim 7, wherein each of the elongate supports has the triangular configuration.

9. A hammock stand according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the connection of the rods is a pivotable connection.

10. A hammock stand according to claim 8, wherein the free ends of the rods of the first support are each secured adjacent a respective free end of the rods of the second support.

11. A hammock stand according to claim 10, wherein each of the free ends is pivotably secured.

12. A hammock stand according to claim 8, wherein the connection of the rods is a pivotable connection, and wherein the free ends of the rods of the first support are each pivotably secured adjacent a respective free end of the rods of the second support, the pivotable connections facilitating collapse of the hammock stand to a condition in which the elongate rods of each support are generally parallel to each other.

13. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein one or more of the elongate rods is collapsible to reduce the length of the rod.

14. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the anchor arrangement includes a pair of spaced apart base parts for securing respective ends of a support of triangular configuration, and a connector which is connected to each of the base parts and which extends between them limits the maximum spacing between the base parts.

15. A hammock stand according to claim 14, wherein the connector is flexible.

16. A hammock stand according to claim 15, wherein the connector is a rope, cord, strap or webbing.

17. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein the elongate rods are aluminium rods.

18. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the anchoring means is a rope, cord, strap or webbing.

19. A hammock stand according to claim 18, wherein the anchoring means is a single member in the form of a rope, cord, strap or webbing.

20. A hammock stand according to claim 18, wherein the anchoring means comprises a pair of members in the form of a rope, cord, strap or webbing and each member extends from the first region of the elongate support at an angle to the other.

21. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the length of the anchoring means is variable.

22. A hammock stand according to claims 1 to 21 , wherein the second regions of the elongate supports are secured at spaced apart positions.

23. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the hammock stand includes a bracing arrangement which is fixed to the hammock stand and to which the anchoring means can be fixed.

24. A hammock stand according to claim 23, wherein the bracing arrangement includes a bracing member that extends lengthwise in the direction between the first regions beyond each of the second regions and which is fixed to the hammock stand against lifting and which is in contact with the supporting surface, the anchoring means being fixed to the bracing member and the bracing member anchoring the anchoring means when a load is applied to a hammock supported by the hammock stand.

25. A hammock stand according to claim 23, wherein the bracing member extends to a position at each end thereof, which is at least midway between the first and second regions of each support.

26. A hammock stand according to any one of claims 1 to 25, and including a hammock which is strung between and attached to the first regions of the elongate supports.

27. A hammock stand including: a frame for supporting a hammock above a supporting surface on which the hammock stand is placed, the frame having spaced apart connection regions to which opposite ends of a hammock can be attached, and a central region between connection regions which is arranged to engage the supporting surface, anchoring means connected to a connection region and extending therefrom for connection to a fixing point, whereby when a load is placed on a hammock which is attached to and strung between the connection regions, the load tends to cause connection regions of the frame to flex inwardly, and whereby the anchoring means is operable to substantially prevent inward flexing of the connection region to which it is attached.

28. A hammock stand according to claim 26, wherein anchoring means is connected to each of the connection regions.

29. A hammock stand according to claim 27, wherein in side view, the hammock stand has generally a V shape.

30. A hammock bed, including a hammock stand and a hammock supported by the hammock stand, wherein the hammock stand includes a pair of elongate supports for supporting a hammock above a supporting surface on which the hammock stand is placed, each of the supports having a first region to which opposite ends of a hammock are attached, and each support having a second region remote from the first region which is secured to a base arrangement, anchoring means connected to a first of the supports and extending therefrom for connection to an anchoring point, in an in use condition, the supports each define an acute angle with the supporting surface and extend away from each other in substantially opposite directions, so that the first regions of the supports are spaced apart a greater distance than the second regions whereby when a load is placed on a hammock which is strung between the supports in attachment with the first regions thereof, the load imposed on the supports tends to cause the supports to rotate about the base arrangement towards each other, and whereby the anchoring means is operable to limit rotation of the support to which it is attached.

31. A hammock bed according to claim 30, further including a sun shade attached at opposite ends thereof to the elongate supports of the hammock stand and in overlying relationship with the hammock, so as to shade at least a substantial portion of the hammock.

32. A hammock bed according to claim 31 , wherein the sun shade has a central batten which extends laterally across the lengthwise extent of the sun shade, the batten causing the sun shade to have a concave shape when viewed from within the hammock.

33. A hammock bed according to claim 32, wherein the batten is a collapsible batten.