Foldable hammock stand

Abstract

A foldable hammock stand comprises a curved longitudinal base channel attached at each end to a support leg. A pair of curved longitudinal support arms pivotally attach inward from opposing ends of the base section to form a support construction for holding a two-point swing style hammock. A latching mechanism in each support arm engages with the base section to hold the support arm in the open or operative position. A latch release in each support arm disengages the latch from the base section to allow each support arm to pivot in an upward arc to the upright or stored position. A latching mechanism on each support arm engages a base section cross member to hold the support arm in the stored position until released back into the operative the position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to hammock stands or supports and more particularly, to hammock stands which are readily foldable.

[0005] Various types of foldable or collapsible hammock stands or supports have previously been suggested in numerous patents including 2,347,656 and 2,581,623 to Benjamin, 4,797,961 to Pasquariello, 4,925,138 to Rawlins, 5,003,652 to Baylass, and 5,659,907 to Huang. The aforesaid patents suggest different ways of providing a foldable or collapsible hammock stand with various degrees of compactness, portability and ease of operation.

[0006] The foldable hammock stand of the present invention overcomes the limitations of the aforesaid patents by providing a quick and simple means of reducing the amount of floor space consumed by the hammock stand in the operative position by folding the support arms upward and inward relative to the base section, which continues to provide a platform for the hammock stand in the folded position. The hammock remains attached to the support arms and is folded vertically to protect the hammock surface from the elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a foldable hammock stand or support for providing means for suspending a swing style hammock having one attachment point on each end. The object of this invention is to provide an improved hammock stand or support.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide a means for readily folding the support arms upward and inward, so that when not in use, the hammock stand takes up less floor space and the hammock is folded and thus less exposed to the elements.

[0009] Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description, claims and drawings.

[0010] The present invention relates to a foldable hammock stand or support consisting of a curved, base section channel suspended between first and second curved ground support legs attached perpendicularly to opposite ends of the base channel. The base channel provides a means for pivotally attaching first and second longitudinal support arms. The support arms include latching mechanisms that pivot to engage the base channel. The support arms also include a latch release mechanism for disengaging the latching mechanism from the base channel. The support arms have latching mechanisms for holding the support arms in the upright or "stored" position. Attachment hooks at the outer ends of the support arms provide means for attaching the hammock to the support arms. Thus the present invention provides a means for supporting a hammock in the folded out or operative position and the folded up or "stored" position with quick conversion between the two positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable and foldable hammock stand in the folded out or operative position.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the folded up (stored) position hammock stand

[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the base channel and support arm at the pivot point.

[0014] FIG. 4a is an isometric view of the support arm illustrating the base attachment end with attachment slots.

[0015] FIG. 4b is an isometric view of the support arm illustrating the base attachment end with attachment holes.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of support arm to base channel operative position latch mechanism.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of view of support arm to base channel stored position latch mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a foldable hammock stand including a base section composed of a curved base channel 10 suspended between first and second ground support members 11 attached perpendicularly to opposite ends of the base channel 10. First and second curved support arms 12 are pivotally attached by means of pivot pins 13 to opposite ends of the base channel 10. The support arms 12 include latching mechanisms 14 that pivotally engage the base channel 10 to hold the support arms 12 in the folded out operative position shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] The support arms 12 include a latch release member 15 remotely attached by cable or cord 16 for disengaging the latch mechanism 14 from the base channel 10, allowing the support arms 12 to be pivoted upward and inward to the stored position shown in FIG. 2. The support arms 12 have latching mechanisms 17 for holding the support arms 12 in the upright stored position. Attachment hooks 18 at the outer ends of the support arms 12 provide means for attaching the hammock 19 to the support arms 12 in both the folded out operative position shown in FIG. 1 and the folded up stored position shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] The sectional view in FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the base channel 10 consisting of a lower horizontal wall 20 and parallel vertical side walls. 21 Extensions of the horizontal wall 20 form flanges 22 for attaching the ground support members. 11

[0021] Pivot pins 13 spaced inward from the ends of the base channel 10 pass horizontally through apertures 23 in the vertical side walls 21 of the base channel 10 and apertures 26 or 27 in the vertical side walls 24 of the support arms 12 forming a pivot axis between the base channel 10 and each of the first and second support arms. 12

[0022] Lateral stability of the support arms 12 relative to the base channel 10 is provided by means of spacers 25 between the overlapping portions of the base channel 10 sidewalls 21 and the support arm 12 sidewalls. 24

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the support arms 12 is a square or rectangular tube of metallic material. The tubes forming the support arms 12 are curved to match the curvature of the base channel. 10

[0024] One end of each support arm 12 has a means of engaging with the pivot pins 13 in the base section channel. 10 This means of engagement can be a slot 26 in each of the support arm 12 side walls 24 as shown in FIG. 4a or a hole 27 in each support arm 12 side walls 24 as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0025] Each support arm 12 is held in the operative position by a first and second latching members 26 pivotally attached to first and second cylindrical projections 27 on the outside of the upper horizontal wall 28 of the support arm. 12 First and second pivotally attached latch members 26 engage first and second flanges 29 on the upper outside surfaces of the side walls 21 of the base channel 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0026] A flexible tensioning member 30 attached between upper flanges 31 of the latch members 26 hold the latch members 26 in a positive engagement position relative to base channel flanges. 29 Downward deflection of the center portion 32 of the flexible tensioning member 30 by the latch release cord 16 activates the latch members 26 to pivot to the disengagement position.

[0027] As each support arm 12 pivots from the operative position to the upright stored position a latch member 33 pivotally attached to the upper horizontal wall 28 of the support arm 12 engages a cross member 34 between the tops of the base channel 10 side walls. 21 (FIG. 6) The latch member 33 holds the support arm 12 in the upright stored position until the latch member 33 is pivoted upward to the disengagement position.

Claims

1. I claim a folding hammock stand comprised of: a base section comprised of a curved base channel suspended between first and second ground support members attached perpendicularly to opposite ends of the base channel. a pair of curved tubular support arms each being pivotally attached to the base channel and the outer side walls of the first and second support arms overlap with minimal clearance between the side walls of the base section and the side walls of the support arms to provide substantial lateral stability to the support arms. a base section and a pair of support arms particularly proportional longitudinally to provide and appropriate spacing between support arm outer ends for suspending a hammock in the operative position and the support arms of particularly appropriate length to provide for suspending attached hammock with clearance above the base section when support arms are folded upward and inward to the stored position while maintaining clearance of the support arm upper ends under standard home ceiling height of approximately eight feet from the floor. a pair of support arms containing pivotally attached latching mechanisms for engaging flanges of the base channel side walls to maintain the support arms in the unfolded operative position, a tensioning member to facilitate said engagement, and a latch release member for moving the latching member pivotally into the disengagement position. a first and second support arm containing pivotally attached latching member on the outside of the upper wall for engaging the cross members of the base channel to maintain said support arms in the upright stored position.