US2375792A - Hammock - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1945. Q H` KEARNY v 2,375,792'

' HAMMOCK Filed 00T.. 19, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l Figi.

121 22 :94 l 15 2 zi ,2o 25h 556 5455 9J A L97 /NvEm-on Cresson H. Kearny 4f JZ; A Q; BY fiw f ATTORNEYS k May'15, 1945. `c. H. KEARNY HAMMOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filedl Oct. 19. 1942 1 /750 Cresson H. Kearny May 15, `1945. c. H. KEARNY 2,375,792

HAMMocK Filed oct. 19, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 5 gmc/whom Cresson H. Kearny `of the hammockpand Patented May` 15, 1945 Cresson H.

Kearny, United States Army, Fort Clayton, C. Z. I

Application October 19, 1942, Serial No. 462,529

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 11 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, Without payment tome `of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to hammocks `for campers orfor Army use, and more particularly to canopied hammocks offering complete protection `against the elements and insects.

and they are secured: by grommets `passing through both layers of the folded ends.

At the foot'end ofthe hammock there is provided the irregularly shaped member I2 made from light weightduck or similar material. This member Ais sewed to the bottom I so that the edges 1I-12-13 of the member I 2` lielalongthe line sewed to the right-side of the bottom I and vvill` It is anobject of this invention to provide a hammock which will offer a light Weight arrange ment combining the advantages of a tent, a sleeping bag and a mosquito bar, yet in such` form taht it will require a minimum of time and equipment for erection.

It is afurther object of this invention to provide I a device of the character` described which will be suitable for general use in both hot and cold climates. I Y. .I

`These and other objects and advantages of the s invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the` following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which V Fig 1 is an exploded view of the elements making up the body of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the canopy; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the falsebottom of the hammock;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the body.

of the hammock;`

Fig 5 is a transverse cross-section of the body Fig. 6 is a viewin perspective of an embodiment of the invention as set up in the field.

`The methodof constructing a hammock ac- I cording to the invention willbe clear from a con- 11-82 of the bottom. The section 13-52 is extend approximately to the point 15. 'Similarly the section 1I10is sewed along the left side of the bottom I and extends to the point 11i.4

To finish out the right side of the bottom'` I there are provided members 2 `an`d"3 constructed sideration of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The numeral `I lrepresents a piecey of relatively heavy material such as canvas or duck,`from which is formed the bottom supporting member of the hammock. Adjacent the ends of the bottom I, are placed a series of holes 83` and 90. The ends are then folded along the lines 18-81 and 85--88 respectively bringing the lines 19--80 and 11-82 at one end and the linesB4-81 and 86--89 at the other end into juxtaposition. The folded ends are then sewed along the last mentioned ` lines leaving tabs 91, 19, 80, 92 and 86, 94, 93, 89 respectively to which the top portion `of the device I may be sewed, or, if itis desired' to provide an added precaution `againstthe possibility of the ends tearing out, they maybe sewed to the bottom I. The double row of holes83 and 90 Will from lightv Weight duck" or similar material. The

-member 2 is irregularly shaped and the edge Vsection 53-62 of the member I2.` The edge 20-23 of the member 3 issewed to the right side of thebottom l starting at `the point I9. `The Hedges' I8-I9 and 2I-2 of the members 2 and 3 respectively are sewn together;

At the head end, a member 6, also made of light Weight duck or similar material, "has its edge 34-#31 sewed to the bottom I along the line sewed to `the edge 23--22 of the. member 3.'

A side member 9, constructed from the same material as the prior mentioned side members and corresponding to member 3, has its edge 544-53 sewed tol the left side of the bottom` I starting at the point 81.` Its edge 54-55 is sewed to the edge 31`35 of the member 5.

A side member 8, constructed from the same `material asthe member 9, is arranged to' have itsedge 43-44 detachably fastened to `the left side of the bottom I` preferablyrby a zipper 101,

starting from the point 15. The edge`43-4`6-41 of the member 8 is sewed to the section 1li-59 of the member I2.` The edges 44-45 and 53-56 of the side members 8 and 9, respectively, are arranged to be detachably fastened together, preferably by means of `zipper HI8.` o I From the construction' thus far described,` it will be seen that there has been provided a strong supporting hammock bottom I`l'1aving grommeted openings 83 and 9D at either end to which" supporting cords may be attached and having troughlike sides of solid, but light weight material formed by the members-2, 3, 6, 8, 9 and I2.. The @depth of the sides is preferably4 to 8 inches.

now appear as asingle row of holes at each end `Along the right sideof the hammock there are provided irregularly` shaped members 4 and 5 of mosquito' netting. 'The member `5`has its edge The edge 34-35 of the member 6 is 28-24' sewed'to the edge 2|-22 of the member 3 and its edge 26--21-28 sewed to the edge 3|-30-29 of the member 4. The member 4 has its edge 33-20 sewed to the edge II-I8 of the member 2 and its edge 32-33 Vsewed to the edge 64-63 of the end member |2.

Similarly.. along the left side of the hammock there are provided irregularly shaped members I and II of mosquito netting.. The member II has its edge 5l-6I sewed to the edge 56-55 of the member 9 and its edge 51-58-59 detachably attached, preferably by a continuation of the zipper |08, to the edge 52--5I-50 of the member I0.

The member I0 has its edge 48--52 sewed to the edge 41-45 of the member 8 and its edge 48--49 sewed to the edge 69-68 of the end member It.` At the head end there is provided member 'I of mosquito netting having itsedge 3.8-42 sewed to the edge 35-36 of member 0, thel edge .38-39 sewed to the edge 24-25 of member 5 and the edge 42--4I sewed to the edge 6I60 of member II. f

From the construction thus described, and` due to the irregular shape of the side and end members, it Will be: seen that the vtop edges of the side members will', when the bottom I' of the hammock assumes the shape taken when an individual. is supported thereon, form substantially horizontal lines having their centers atv somewhat greater spacing than at the ends, while the bottom edges of the sides will. form catenaries. Similarly, the end. members..` due to their shaping, will, under the same conditions, form, at the top edge, an inverted Vy while their bottom edges will also form catenaries. It will also be noted that the edgesv 64,-'-65 and IST- 68 of the member' I2 will form a portion of the top edges of the'right and left sides,V respectively of the hammock. This will be apparent from a, consideration of Figs. 4 and 5 in which the points of attachment of the various members corresponding to those just described have been indicated in order .toV simplify the understanding of their arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 2 the construction and attachment of the canopy I3 will be clear. The top edges of the side and end members are sewn to the under side of the canopy I3 along the dotted line |06. The points marked out along this line. represent approximately where the corresponding points of the top edges of the side and end members will lie. At each corner of the canopy |3 there are provided looped tabs |00 through which a spacing` member, as will bedescribed later, may be placed. Looped tabs |02l are placed at' the center of each end and, `if desired, similar looped tabs I0'I may be placed on either side. The function of these loops will be described later.

yExperience has shown thatwhen ordinary cots or .hammocks of usual construction are used for sleeping in. cold weather, it is necessary to have as much bed clothing underneath as on top of the sleeper. This is because of' the fact that, with any movement at all of the surrounding air, the air which has `been heated by body warmth is rapidly displaced by cold air resulting in a continual loss of body heat.

In order to prevent this occurrence and, consequently, halving the number of required blankets, I provide a falsebottom Mito my hammock. This false bottom is sewed to the edges of the true-bottom but, as willr appear from a comparison oi Figs. l and 3, is of greater overall dimensions. Referring to these two iigures the construction and method of attaching the false- .bottom I 4 to the hammock will be clear. The

vair within it which will be heated by the body and act as an insulating buffer between the body and the surrounding cold air.

In addition to this function, the false bottom, in conjunction with the lower side walls, provides a barrier through which insects and small reptiles will not be able to bite the sleeper.

The arrangement for supporting my improved hammock lwill be clear from a considerationJ of Fig. 6. The hammock is strung up as usual between the supports 'I I0 :by means. of supporting cords |09 passing through the grommeted openings 83- and 90 and to commonrings III. A line is then attached from each-ofthe center end tabs |02 ofI thecanopy to the supports..` Preferably the canopy lines are elastic orare provided with springs IIZ so that, should-the support cords |09 break, the hammock will not be torn as the bottom falls. Spacing members I I3 are passed through the corner `loops' |00 of the canopy to form an1 A-type roof." The spacing ymembers ||3 may be made `of any convenient material and by varying their length the. angle of the canopy can be adjusted-to anydesirable degree. From the center side tabs IOI and the vent the wind -from upsetting the canopy in stormy weather. v

c While I have described my invention solely foruse as a canopiedhammock, itis clear that it is equally suited for use as` a sleeping bag or as a ground tent. When. used as-a ground tent the line across the center tabsI |Il|` forms the ridge and the slack taken up bythe sides to form the curved bottom of the hammock is used to permit thev formation of an apex along this line. In order to insure weather tightness, all members, with the exception of the netting are water- -proofed, and all seams waxedafter sewing.

While I have described a single embodiment of Y my invention, it is to be understood thatl do not 'a hammock', means for supporting the'ham'mock -at its ends in'spaced relation to the canopy,

said hammock including side edges, end and side members provided with netting portions and in- `cluding upper and loweredges, said upper and lower edges of said end members secured tothe hammock and canopy adjacent to oppositeends thereof and to said side members, the lower edges of the side members secured to opposite side edges of the hammock and said upper edgesof the side members secured at their ends to said canopy and rextending longitudinally in spaced relation on opposite sides of said ridge and said lower edges of the end `and side membersshaped to form substantially catenary-like curvatures at the ends and side edges of f the hammock when thehammockis occupiedwhereby any strain is `equally distributed overthe entire device. i

i l 2.2A device of `thecharacter describedfcomprising, in combination, a canopy supported at opposite ends 'and including a central ridge, spreadermembers mounted on the `ends of said canopy and holding thelsides thereof in` spaced relation, a l'iammock,` means supportingthe hammock in spaced relation to the canopy, saidhammock including side edges, irregularly shaped end 4and side members provided with netting portions andiincluding lower and upper edges, said upl peryand lower edges of` the end memberssecurcd to the hammock and canopy adjacentto opposite ends thereof and to said side members, said lower edges of theside members secured to opposite side edges'of the hammock, andsaidupper edges thereof secured; at their ends to the canopy and` extending `in spaced `relation on* opposite sides ci said ridge, a falseA botto-m provided on Y said hammocmsaid lower edges of the end and side members shaped to form substantially catenary-lilnel curvatures atthe ends and side edgesof the hammock when the hammock is occupied. whereby anystrain is equally distributed over the entire device. f

3. A` device `of thecharacterdescribed comprising, in combination, a` canopy including a cen- ,tral ri dge` means `for supporting the" canopy, `spreader `members mounted on ends of said canopy@v and holding the sides thereof in spaced relation, a hammock, means supporting the hammock in spaced relation tothe canopy, `said hammock including side edges, end `andside members provided with ,netting portions and including' lower and upper edges, `said lower and upper edges `of the end members secured adjacent Vto opposite ends of thehammock and canopy andtosaid side members, said side members including connected sections, said lower edges of the side members securedvto opposite side edges of the hammock and said upper edgesof the sidemembers `secured at `their ends tothe canopy and extending in `spaced relation on opposite sides of said ridge adjacent to outer longitudinal edges ofthe canopy, certain of said sectionson a side member detachablyconnected together andto said ham,-l mock, and saidlower edges of the end and `side members shaped to yform `substantially catenary- J'like curvatures at the ends and longitudinal side edges of the hammock when the hammock is occupied whereby `any strain in occupying then;

said joined sections of the end members formed of netting, said lower edges of the side members secured to opposite longitudinal side edges of the hammock and said upper edges of the side members secured at their ends to the canopy and extending longitudinally in spaced relation out of contact with the canopy on opposite sides of said ridge, said lower edges of the end and side members shapedto formtsubstantially catenary-like curvatures at the ends and longitudinal side edges of the hammock and said upperedges of the side members shaped to contact with said canopy when thehammock: is occupied whereby any strain in occupying `the hammock is equally distributed overthe entire device. u 1

l 5; A device'otthebharacter described having, in combination, ahammock supported at its ends and comprisinga longitudinally extending bottom supporting member, end attaching means,`

'supporting cordsconnected to the end attaching means, 'irregularly shaped foot, head and side membershaving ends and upper and lower edges, saidfoot member including annverted V-shaped portion on its upper edge and a `V-shaped portion" on its lower edge `and saidupper edge `of the 'head member having an inverted V-shape, said V-shaped portionon the lower edge of said foot" member secured to the bottom supporting member adjacent to one of `its ends andthe lower edge of said head member secured to thebottom supporting member adjacent to another end'` thereofj said lower edges of the side members secured to opposite longitudinal side edges oi the bottom supporting member and said ends of lthe fdot and head members secured to the ends of saidsidem'embers, a longitudinally extending.

canopy supported at its ends above said hammock and secured to' the inverted V-shaped portion on the upper edge of the foot member and the linvertedwV-shaped upper edge of the head member Vand to the ends of the upper edges of the side membersgspreader members mounted onthe ends of-said `canopy and holding the sides thereof Vinspaced relation,L said canopy including a lon'- Agitudinal `central ridge and having a greater lengtlrand width than said hammock whereby the canopy extendsoutwardly from the longitudinal edges `of the hammock, foot, head `and side membersgtsaid upper edgesof the side members extending longitudinally in spaced relation l on opposite sides oisaid ridge and said lower edges ofthe foot, head` and side members adaptedto form substantially catenary-like curvatures at `thei ends and longitudinal side edges of the hammock upon the hammock being occupied whereby any strainin `occupying the hammock is equally distributed over the device.` 1

6. A device of `the character `described having, in combination, a hammock supported atits ends and comprising a longitudinally` extending bottom supporting member, end `attaching means, `supporting cords connected to the end attaching :means'end .and s ide` members, said end and side members having ends and lower and upper edges,

said lower edges of the end members secured to the bottom supporting member adjacent to oppo-` site ends thereof, said lower edges of the side members secured to opposite longitudinalside edges of the bottom supporting member and said ends of the end members secured to the ends of the side ,members a longitudinally extending canopy supported at its ends above said hammock and secured to the upper edges of the end members' and to ends `of the upper edges of the side members, said canopy including a longitudinal central ridge and having a greater length and width than said bottom supporting member whereby the canopy extends outwardly :from` the end and side members, spreader members mounted on the ends of said canopy and holding the sides thereof in spaced relation, said upper edges of the side members extending longitudinally in spaced relation on opposite sides of said `ridge and shaped to be out of contact with said' canopy `when the hammock is unoccupied and p to. ..bec.ome rectilinear for contacting. with said canopy upon'the hammock being occupied and said lower edges of the end and side members shaped to form substantially catenary-like curvatures on the ends and longitudinal side edges of l the bottom supporting member upon the hammock being occupied whereby any strain is equally distributed over the entire. device.

. '2. A combined canopy and hammock assembly comprising, in combination, a canopy, means supporting 'the ends of the canopy, spreader means mounted on the canopy at the ends thereof and holding the sides thereof in spaced relation, Y

andside edges of the hammock when the ham-v mock is occupied whereby any strain is equally distributed over the entire device.

8. Aicombined canopy and hammock assembly comprising, in combination, a canopy provided witha 'centrallyl extending ridge, means supporting the ends of the canopy, spreader means `mounted on the canopy at the ends thereof and holding the sides thereof in spaced relation, a hammock, means supporting the hammock in spaced relation to the canopy, said hammock including side edges, side andV endmembers including netting'portions and having upper, lower and sideedges, saidmembers 'being united along their side edges and attachedl at their upper edges to said canopy,fsaid lower edges of said members attached to the ends' and side edges off said hammock and shaped to form substantially catenary- `like curvatures at the ends and side edges of the vhammock when the hammock is occupied whereby any strain is equally distributed over the entire device.

9. A canopy and hammock assembly combined in a unitary, flexible structure and comprising, in combination, a canopy, means supporting the ends of the canopy, spreader means mounted on the canopy at the ends thereof andholding the sides thereof `in spaced relation, a hammock, means supporting the hammock in spaced relation to thecanopy, said hammock including side edges, side and end members including lnetting portions and having upper, lower and side edges and lend'members having upper, lower and side edges, said members being united along their side edges to. said canopy and attached vat their lower'edges to said hammock, said end members being shaped tov allow their upper edges` to conform to the shape of the canopy and said side members being shaped to allow their upper edges to form horizontal lines, said lower edges of said side and end members shaped to form substantially catenary like curvatures at the `ends and side edges of the hammock when the hammock is occupied .Where- 'by any strain is equally distributed over the entire device. 10., A canopy andv hammock assembly combined inv a unitary, flexible structure andcomprising, in'combination, a canopy provided with a centrally extending ridge, means supporting the canopy at itsopposite ends inthe line of said ridge, spreader'means mounted on the canopy at the ends thereof and holding the sides thereof` in spaced relation, a hammock,'means supporting the hammock in spaced relation to the canopy, said hammock including side edges, side and end members including netting' portions and having upper, lower and side edges, `said members being .united along their side edges and attached at their upper edges. to said canopy, said lower edges of ysaid rmembers shaped to form substantially catenary-like curvatures at the` ends and side edges of said hammock when the hammock is occupied whereby any strain is equally distributed over the'entire device.

' 11. A canopy and. hammock assembly combined in a. unitary, eXible structure and comprising, in combination, a canopy provided with a centrally. extending ridge, means supporting the canopy at'its opposite ends in the line of said ridge, spreader means mounted o'n the canopy at the ends thereof andholding the sides thereof in spaced relation, a. hammock, means supporting the hammock in'spaced relation to the canopy,

said hammock including side edges, side and end members including nettingv portions and having upper, lower and side edges, said members being united along their side edges and attached at their f upper edges to said canopy, said lower edges of Y said members shapedA to form substantially catenary-like` curvatures at the ends and side edges of the hammock when the hammockv is occupied whereby any strain is equally distrib-A uted over `the entire device, and slide fastening means in connection with one of said side members to afford access to the interior of said hammock.

CRESSON H. KEARNY-

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