Hammocks are a well known means in which to relax in great comfort, whether in a person's own garden or elsewhere. However, in order to suspend the hammock it is necessary to have a pair of trees from which to suspend the hammock from.

Furthermore, said pair of trees must be positioned a suitable distance apart from one another in order to permit a hammock to be suspended therebetween.

Therefore, although many gardens will have two or more trees, the space in between the various trees is often unsuitable for a hammock. Those gardens with only one tree are obviously also unsuitable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hammock support system which may be utilised to suspend a hammock in the traditional two ended support format but from only a single support such as a trunk of a tree or the like, although equally an outdoor or indoor wall would serve as a suitable support.

The present invention provides a system for suspending a hammock from a single support, the system comprising a strut having a free end and an abutting end, the abutting end, in use, abutting against the support; and a tie which, in use, is secured to the support at a position above the abutting end, and to the strut at a position proximal the free end, such that the hammock may be suspended and supported beneath the strut.

Preferably, the hammock, having a first end and a second end, is secured, via the first end, to the strut proximal the free end thereof, and via the second end to the support at a position beneath the abutting end of the strut.

Preferably, the angle formed between the tie and the strut, in use, is substantially equal to the angle formed between the strut and the first end of the hammock, when the hammock is occupied.

Preferably, the tie and the first end of the hammock, in use, are each secured at substantially the same distance from the free end of the strut.

Preferably, in use, the longitudinal axis of the strut is inclined from the free end to the abutting end, at an angle of between 10° and 20°, more preferably at an angle of between 12° and 16°, and most preferably at an angle of 14°, to the horizontal.

Preferably, the strut is secured to the support, in use, by a coupling which permits relative movement between the strut and the support.

Preferably, the coupling operates in the manner of a universal joint.

Preferably, the coupling is formed of a substantially inert material.

Preferably, the free end of the strut is provided with an impact absorbing element.

Preferably, the strut comprises a rigid tube, more preferably a metal tube, most preferably a stainless steel tube.

Preferably, the tie comprises a flexible member, and most preferably a stainless steel cable.

Preferably, the system further comprises a harness which is secured to the strut proximal the abutting end thereof, and is secured to the support, in use, at a position above the abutting end of the strut, the harness being adapted to secure the strut to the support in the event of the strut being separated from the support.

Preferably, the harness comprises a length of rope or stainless steal cable.

Preferably, the system further comprises a restraint which is secured to the strut proximal the free end thereof, the restraint also being secured, in use, at a surface located beneath the hammock, in order to prevent excessive movement of the strut relative to the support.

Preferably, the restraint comprises a length of rope or stainless steel cable.

Preferably, the strut may be hinged upwardly, about the abutting end, and secured to the support for the purposes of storage.

Preferably, one or more accessories may be secured to the strut.

As used herein, the term"strut"is intended to mean a structural element capable of resisting longitudinal compression, and is particularly intended to mean such structural elements as metal rods or tubes, or any other suitable equivalent.

As used herein, the term"tie"is intended to mean a structural element, which may be rigid or flexible, and which supports, under tension, the weight of one or more structural members, and is particularly intended to mean such structural elements as high tensile cabling, for example steel cable or the like.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a hammock support system according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of a free end of a strut forming part of the support system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of an abutting end of the strut of Figure 2, in contact with a support such as a trunk of a tree or the like, in addition to a harness which is connected to the abutting end of the strut; Figure 4 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of one end of a tie forming part of the system of the present invention, the tie being secured around a support such as a tree or the like; Figure 5 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of a preferred means of several alternatives such as rope, straps, piggy screws or a rag thread eye bolt, by which a hammock, for use with the system of the present invention, is secured at one end thereof to a support; and Figure 6 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of an optional restraint which is connected at one end thereof to the free end of the strut, and at the opposed end thereof to the ground.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a hammock support system, generally indicated as 10, for enabling a hammock 12 to be suspended from a single support 16. Referring to Figure 1, the support 16 is most preferably in the form of a trunk of a tree (not shown), but could equally take the form of an outdoor or indoor wall or free standing post (not shown) or similar suitable support formed in existing or new masonry, concrete, metal, brick or similar suitable materials (not shown) for use in a new range of domestic, nautical, commercial, tourism, camping, caravan or military applications. The system 10 comprises a strut 14 which abuts against, and is preferably loosely and removeably mounted in a hole 82 in, the support 16, at an abutting end 24 of the strut 14, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail. The strut 14, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, is formed from a cylindrical tube of stainless steel of approximately 3 metres in length. However, the material used to manufacture the strut 14 can of course be varied, and a suitable alternative would

be carbon fibre, wherein the gauge and/or length of the strut 14 may be varied to suit the particular material used, and to be compatible with ergonomic and other parameters. As may be readily appreciated, the strut 14 may also be used to suspend a tent (not shown) or mosquito net (not shown) therefrom, to be sealed about the hammock 12. The strut 14 may also support a sun canopy (not shown), a suspended drinks container (not shown), table (not shown) or any other applicable accessories.

The strut 14 projects outwardly from the support 16, at a preferred height above ground level to terminate at a free end 26 thereof. Located between the free end 26 and the support 16, at a position above the abutting end 24, is a tie 18, which in the preferred embodiment is formed from marine grade stainless steel corded cable. It will be readily appreciated that the tie 18 may be formed from any suitable alternative material, such as static high grade sailing rope (not shown).

As the support system 10 is primarily intended for outdoor use, the choice of a non-rusting, maintenance free and safe material for the tie 18 is preferable.

The hammock 12 is secured at a first end 42 to the free end 26 of the strut 14, and at a second end 66 to the support 16, at a position below the abutting end 24 of the strut 14. The hammock 12 is conventional in form, the support system 10 being designed to receive a range of conventional hammocks (not shown) having a range of different end details. When the hammock 12 is loaded (e. g. when occupied), both the hammock 12 and the tie 18 are in tension, and the strut 14 is consequently in compression. The support system 10 is arranged and dimensioned such that the strut 14 is disposed, in use, such as to be axially disposed along a line bisecting the angle formed between the line of action of the hammock 12 and the tie 18. It will therefore be appreciated that the resultant compressive force set-up within the strut 14 as a result of the tension within the tie 18 and the hammock 12, will act along the line of action of the strut 14, such that no bending forces are set-up therein.

In this way, the support 16 bears the tensile forces transmitted through the second end 66 of the hammock 12, similar to any conventional hammock support (not shown). Unlike a conventional hammock support (not shown) however, the tensile forces present at the first end 42 of the hammock 12 are borne by the strut 14, which is consequently pressed against the support 16, and is therefore, in use, continually in compression, both by the self weight of the strut 14 when the hammock 12 is not in use, and more so by the load contained therein when in use.

As the compressive forces act through the line of action of the strut 14, the support 16 therefore bears the full component of this compressive force and it is therefore evident that the single support 16, by virtue of the support system 10, bears all of the compressive force set up by the loading of the hammock 12. The support system 10 therefore allows a hammock 12 to be suspended from a single support 16 such as a suitable tree (not shown) or the like.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the strut 14 abuts against the support 16 at the abutting end 24 thereof. The greater the horizontal distance that the abutting end 24 is set back from the position at which the tie 18 is fixed to the support 16, the more self stabilising the strut 14 becomes after any displacement. In order to fix the strut 14 relative to the support 16, and to transfer the forces from the strut 14 to the support 16, the hole 82 is first formed in the support 16 by pressing a coupling, in the form of a swage fork 80, into the support 16. The swage fork 80 is preferably formed from an inert material such as stainless steel and, having a moderately loose fit within the hole 82, does not cause environmental damage to the support 16, in addition to preventing future"lever"damage to the strut 16, as is described hereinafter in greater detail. The hole 82 is positioned to ensure the optimal entry position for the unloaded hammock 12 of 660mm above ground level. In order to allow the accurate location of the hole 82 within the support 16, the strut 14 is preferably provided with a positional reference mark (not shown) thereon. Therefore, the strut 14 may initially be stood vertically against the support 16, with the positional reference mark (not shown) being used to mark the preferred location on the support 16, of the hole 82.

The swage fork 80 is provided with a joint 84 at the, in use, exposed end thereof, the joint 84 permitting both horizontal and vertical movement of the strut 14 relative to the support 16, thereby effectively forming a universal joint therebetween. The need to maintain the positional accuracy of the joint 84 is achieved by the location of non-structural packers 98, preferably formed from PVC, the packers 98 ensuring the accurate transfer of forces along the line of action of the strut 14 to the support 16. The abutting end 24 of the strut 14 is provided with a pair of washers 78, preferably formed from stainless steel, which washers 78 bare directly onto the strut 14 thereby transferring the forces acting thereon directly to the support 16. The pair of washers 78, together with four packing washers 86 which are located, and have a precise fit within, the strut 14, act to secure the strut 14 relative to the support 16 via a second eye bolt 76. The four packing washers 86 have a cut or groove (not shown) taken out of their edge to house the projected internal longitudinal weld (not shown) of the strut 14 and to locate the second eye bolt 76 and the first eye bolt 30 relative to each other and to the support 16 correctly. The second eye bolt 76 circumscribes the joint 84, in addition to passing through the pair washers 78 and the four packing washers 86, to be secured thereto by means of a locknut 90. Located between the locknut 90 and the four packing washers 86 is an optional anti-vibration spring washer 88 in order to better prevent, in use, loosening of the locknut 90.

As previously stated, the provision of the hole 82 and the loosely fitting swage fork 80, in addition to locating the strut 14 relative to the support 16, prevents damage occurring to the strut 14. If the swage fork 80 was fixed immovably within the support 16, and the strut 14 was excessively abused by swinging the free end 26 beyond 90° from the installed position and applying further force at the free end 26, the strut 14 would then act as a lever and in consequence thereof may suffer bending. As a preventive measure to stop such an occurrence, the comparatively loosely fitting swage fork 80 will be pulled out of the hole 82, thereby disengaging, as opposed to bending the strut 14. The undamaged strut 14 is in turn then caught by a harness 22 which comprises a cable 52 secured between the strut 14 and a first lag threaded eye bolt 58, preferably formed from

stainless steel, which is secured to the support 16 at a position above the abutting end 24.

All abutments to the support 16, particularly when the support 16 is a tree (not shown), are of stainless steel, which is inert, and are detailed to be free from having any deleterious environmental impact on the continuing growth of the tree (not shown).

The cable 52 is provided with a first loop 54 which passes around the first lag threaded eye bolt 58, in addition to a second loop 56 which is secured between the second eye bolt 76 at the abutting end 24 of the strut 14. As the majority of trees (not shown) will have a number of branches naturally preventing such an occurrence, the harness 22 is an optional, but nevertheless preferred feature.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, the strut 14 extends from the support 16 to the free end 26 thereof. The free end 26 is provided with a first eye bolt 30 which passes therethrough, and is secured to the free end 26 by means of a eye nut 32.

The tie 18 is connected to the first eye bolt 30 by means of a bottle screw 34 and a swage 36 which is crimped to the tie 18 in order to secure the tie 18 to one side of the bottle screw 34. The bottle screw 34 operates conventionally to allow the legth of the tie 18, in use, to be adjusted as required, to accomodate growth, where the support 16 is a tree (not shown), and to simplify installation of the basic support system 10 by allowing the angle at which the strut 14 is disposed, in use, to be altered. This is achieved by setting one end of a spirit level (not shown) at an orientation mark 100, proximal the free end 24 of the strut 14, and resting the base of the spirit level (not shown) on a clevis pin 102. The length of the tie 18 is then adjusted, by means of the bottle screw 34, until the bubble in the spirit level (not shown) is centred. At this point the angle which the strut 14 forms with both the horizontal and the tie 18 are correct. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the strut 14, when positioned as described above, should be disposed at an angle of approximately 14° to the horizontal.

Referring to Figure 4, the tie 18 extends from the bottle screw 34 and passes around the support 16, the end of the tie 18 being crimped to a heavy duty stainless steel thimble 44, through which the tie 18 passes, thereby forming a self tightening loop around the support 16. In order to prevent damage to the support 16, particularly where the support 16 is in the form of a tree (not shown), there are provided a number of lengths of plastic tubing 48, preferably formed from clear PVC, disposed between the tie 18 and the support 16. It will be readily appreciated that the lengths of tube 48 may be formed from any other suitable material. Where the support 16 is in the form of a tree trunk (not shown), and in the absence of a suitable branch (not shown) preventing possible downward slipping of the tie 18, one such length of tube 48 may be held in place by a long nail 50, preferably formed from stainless steel, passing through the tube 48 a short distance into the support 16, in order to ensure ease of removal thereof if required.

The tie 18 is therefore held securely in position about the support 16. It will be appreciated that where a suitable wall (not shown) or the like is substituted for the support 16, it may not be practical to pass the tie 18 around the wall (not shown), as hereinbefore described. In such cases, any suitable alternative means of securing the tie 18 to the wall (not shown) may be provided, for example some form of masonry fitting (not shown), which must be structurally adequate and compatible with the basic support system 10.

Referring back to Figure 2 and Figure 5, connected to the eye nut 32, at the free end 26 of the strut 14, is a first twisted shackle 38 of conventional configuration, through which a first hammock eye 40 is passed. The first end 42 of the hammock 12 is therefore securely connected to the strut 14, via the first hammock eye 40, proximal the free end 26 thereof.

Referring now to Figure 5, a second lag threaded eye bolt 60, again preferably formed from stainless steel, is screwed into engagement, preferably at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, with the support 16. The height above ground level at which the second lag threaded eye bolt 60 is engaged is dependent on the length of the hammock 12, but is preferably such that the optimum entry position to the

hammock 12 of 600nun above ground level, and 900mm from the support 16, is achieved. The hammock 12 is connected to this second lag threaded eye bolt 60 by means of a second twisted shackle 62, or alternatively a"D"shackle (not shown) connected thereto. The second twisted shackle 62, preferably being formed from stainless steel, allows the quick connection and removal of the hammock 12 to the support 16. It will therefore be appreciated that the provision of the first twisted shackle 38 and the second twisted shackle 62 allows the hammock 12 to be quickly and easily removed from the basic support system 10 while not in use. The basic support system 10 may be left in place throughout the season, as the various components thereof are weather resistant and rust proof.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 6, an additional optional feature of the hammock support system 10 is a restraint 20. The restraint 20 consists of a restraint cable 20, preferably formed from non-static sailing rope, and most preferably formed from stainless steel corded cable having a crimped fork swage 72 secured to one end thereof and a cable loop 92 crimped at the opposed end thereof by means of a copper ferrule 94. The fork swage 72 is connected to the free end 26 of the strut 14 through the eye nut 32, and the cable loop 92 is secured to a surface 74, generally being the ground (not shown), by means of a restraint peg 68, which is preferably angularly inclined within the surface 74. The restraint 20 is located angularly beneath the free end 26 of the strut 14 by a distance which permits adequate but restrictive lateral movement of the strut 14 and therefore the hammock 12, relative to the support 16. When the support system 10 is installed outdoors, the occupant may wish to incrementally alter the position of the hammock 12 in order to follow the sun, or for any other reason. This is achieved by simply removing the restraint peg 68 from the surface 74, swinging the strut 14 into the desired position, and then re-inserting the restraint peg 68 into the surface 74 beneath the free end 26 of the strut 14.

Referring now to Figure 6, the strut 14 is also provided with an impact absorbing element, the preferred form of which is a bung 28 which is engaged within the free end 26 thereof. The bung 28 projects outwardly from the free end 26 on all

sides thereof, and is preferably of hollow cylindrical form having a number of circular apertures 96 therein as illustrated. The bung 28 is preferably formed from a rubber or rubber-like material and has the primary function of impact energy absorption. Therefore, as the bung 28 is substantially flexible and collapsible, upon front or side impact thereof the bung 28 distorts to absorb some of the energy resultant from said accidental impact. The bung 28 subsequently returns to its original shape. The clearance from the bung 28 to the surface 74 is such as to enable smaller children to pass therebeneath, in order to avoid a high velocity collision therewith.

The diameter of the apertures 96 within the bung 28 can be re-sized downwardly permitting a higher impact velocity while still complying with the safe severity index, but the preferred embodiment illustrated is more flexible and soft, and therefore better absorbs the energy of the majority of the lower velocity impacts associated with the elderly.

The basic support system 10 therefore provides a means of suspending the hammock 12 from a single support 16, thereby allowing the suspension of the hammock 12 from previously unsuitable locations. The support system 10 also achieves an additional surprising effect. In the case where the support 16 is a tree (not shown) or other slightly flexible support (not shown), a gentle breeze will cause the support 16 to sway, thereby imparting a gentle rhythmic motion to the hammock 12. This effect requires the unimpaired free movement of one end of the hammock 12, namely the free end 26, a prerequisite not provided by any conventional hammocks supported by two trees (not shown). In order to achieve the best results, the hammock 12 should be suspended on the leeward side of the support 16.

The strut 14, in addition to forming part of the support system 10, may double as three dimensional packaging for the remainder of the components of the basic support system 10, which, aside from the pair of washers 78, fit inside the strut 14. Once filled with the components, one of the washers 78 may be taped to

either end of the strut 14 in order to seal the componets therein for transportation, storage or display.

A further optional feature which may be provided with the basic support system 10 is an assembly (not shown) enabling the support strut 14 to be pivoted upwardly about the joint 84 such that the support strut 14 and tie 18 may be stored intact vertically against the support 16 while not in use.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, this may be achieved by the introduction of an additional hoisting rope (not shown) one end of which is looped around the eye bolt 30 and disposed in parallel and adjacent to the tie 18. A conventional pulley block (not shown) is secured by any suitable means to the support 16, preferably below the thimble 44, the hoisting rope (not shown) being passed through the pulley block (not shown) and drawn substantially vertically downward along the support 16 to be secured to the support 16, preferably by a jamming cleat (not shown) in any suitable fashion, at a level allowing access thereto, to permit a safe temporary fixing and this, when used in conjunction with a spinlock powercleat (not shown) or the like, ensures a safe controlled descent of the strut 14. In operation, the hoisting rope (not shown) when pulled down on, elevates the free end 26 of the strut 14 (with the restraint 20 uncoupled), about the joint 84. Once the strut 14 has been elevated into a substantially vertical orientation adjacent the support 16, the hoisting rope (not shown) is then re-secured to the support 16 in order to maintain the strut 14 in the elevated position.

Thus the present invention provides a system 10 which not only enables a hammock 12 to be suspended via a single support 16, but also provides a number of advantageous features and functions which are not achievable when a hammock is suspended in conventional fashion between a pair of supports.