US20090056014A1

US20090056014A1 - Support assembly for hammock

Info

Publication number: US20090056014A1
Application number: US11/845,126
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-27
Filing date: 2007-08-27
Publication date: 2009-03-05

Abstract

A support assembly for a hammock includes a horizontal base rod having two opposite vertical lateral sides, an oblique support rod having two opposite vertical faces oblique to the respective vertical lateral sides, two horizontal legs projecting transversely and respectively from the vertical lateral sides, and two connecting units each including a tubular sleeve, and a vertical end plate having a horizontal plate portion that closes one open end of the tubular sleeve and that is fixed to and that abuts against the corresponding vertical lateral side, and an oblique plate portion that extends obliquely from an intermediate portion of the horizontal plate portion and that is fixed to and that abuts against the corresponding vertical face of the oblique support rod. The tubular sleeve is sleeved onto one of the horizontal legs opposite to the vertical end plate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a support assembly, more particularly to a support assembly that can securely and stably support a hammock.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional hammock assembly generally includes a netted bed 40 supported by a support assembly (A) that includes four leg rods 41, two connecting seats 43, two oblique support rods 42, and a base rod 45. Each of the connecting seats 43 is a 4-way connecting seat having a first tubular sleeve 44, two second tubular sleeves 431 extending transversely and respectively from two opposite sides of the first tubular sleeve 44, and a third tubular sleeve 430 extending upwardly and obliquely from a top face of the first tubular sleeve 44 between the two second tubular sleeves 431. Each of the first, second, and third tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430 has a rectangular cross section.
To assemble the conventional hammock assembly, the two connecting seats 43 are first placed spaced apart from each other on a support surface, after which two opposite ends of the base rod 45 are inserted respectively into the first tubular sleeves 44 of the connecting seats 43. Subsequently, the four leg rods 41 are inserted into the corresponding second tubular sleeves 431 of the connecting seats 43, and the oblique support rods 42 are inserted into the third tubular sleeves 430 of the respective connecting seats 43. A plurality of bolts 46 are used to fix the base rod 45, the leg rods 41, and the oblique support rods 42 to the corresponding tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430 of the connecting seats 43. Finally, two opposite ends of the netted bed 40 are hung respectively on top ends of the oblique support rods 42.
Although the aforementioned conventional hammock assembly can achieve its intended purpose, it has the drawback as outlined below.
Each of the first to third tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430 must have inner dimensions slightly larger than outer dimensions of the corresponding rod 45, 41, 42, so that there is less resistance to the insertion of the rods 45, 41, 42 into the corresponding tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430. However, since the inner dimensions of each of the tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430 and the outer dimensions of the respective rod 45, 41, 42 may change and the bolts 46 may become loose, after long use of the conventional hammock assembly, the interconnection between the tubular sleeves 44, 431, 430 and the corresponding rods 45, 41, 42 may become less snug, so that when the user makes a slight movement or turn of the body over the netted bed 40, noise is produced. Further, the user must always be ready with tools so as to tighten the bolts 46.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a support assembly for a hammock that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
According to this invention, a support assembly for a hammock comprises a horizontal base rod having two opposite vertical lateral sides, an oblique support rod extending upwardly and obliquely from the base rod and having two opposite vertical faces oblique to the vertical lateral sides of the base rod, respectively, two horizontal legs projecting transversely and respectively from the two opposite vertical lateral sides of the base rod, and two connecting units each connecting one of the horizontal legs to the base rod and including a tubular sleeve, and a vertical end plate fixed integrally to and closing one open end of the tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve is sleeved onto one of the horizontal legs opposite to the vertical end plate. The vertical end plate has a horizontal plate portion that closes the open end of the tubular sleeve and that is fixed to and that abuts against one of the vertical lateral sides of the base rod, and an oblique plate portion that extends obliquely from an intermediate portion of the horizontal plate portion and that is fixed to and that abuts against one of the vertical faces of the oblique support rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hammock assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a support assembly for a hammock according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a support assembly for a hammock according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment in an assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of a support assembly (B) embodying a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Like the support assembly (A) shown in FIG. 1, the support assembly (B) includes a horizontal base rod 31, two oblique support rods 32 (only one is shown), and four horizontal legs 30 (only two are shown). A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of four connecting units 1 (only two are shown) each interconnecting a respective one of the horizontal legs 30 to the base rod 31. In the following, only the portion of the support assembly (B) shown in FIG. 2 will be described. It is to be understood that an identical structure may be present on an opposite side of a hammock assembly to which some embodiments of the present invention are applied.
Each of the base rod 31, the oblique support rod 32, and the horizontal legs 30 has a rectangular cross section. The base rod 31 has two opposite vertical lateral sides 310 (only one is visible), and two spaced-apart fastening holes 311 each extending through the vertical lateral sides 310. The oblique support rod 32 extends upwardly and obliquely from a top side 312 of the base rod 31, and has two opposite vertical faces 320 (only one is visible) oblique to the vertical lateral sides 310, respectively, and a fastening hole 321 that extends through the vertical faces 320. The horizontal legs 30 project transversely and respectively from the two opposite vertical lateral sides 310 of the base rod 31. Each horizontal leg 30 has two opposite vertical faces 301 (only one is visible), and a fastening hole 300 that extends through the vertical faces 301.
Each of the connecting units 1 may be made of metal or plastic, and includes a tubular sleeve 10 and a vertical end plate 2. The tubular sleeve 10 has a rectangular cross section, two opposite vertical lateral walls 101 (only one visible), and a positioning hole 11 that extends through the vertical lateral walls 101. The vertical end plate 2 is fixed integrally to and closes one open end 100 of the tubular sleeve 10, and has a horizontal plate portion 20, and an oblique plate portion 21 extending upwardly and obliquely from an intermediate portion 200 of the horizontal plate portion 20. The horizontal plate portion 20 closes the open end 100 of the tubular sleeve 10, and is formed with two spaced-apart fastening holes 201 that are aligned with the fastening holes 311 in the base rod 31. The oblique plate portion 21 is formed with a fastening hole 210 that is aligned with the fastening hole 321 in the oblique support rod 32.
During assembly, the horizontal legs 30 are inserted respectively into the tubular sleeves 10 of the connecting units 1 opposite to the vertical end plates 2 until the fastening holes 300 are aligned with the respective positioning holes 11 in the tubular sleeves 10 of the connecting units 1, and are fixed thereto through respective fasteners 4, such as bolts incorporating nuts and washers. Afterwards, the horizontal plate portions 20 of the vertical end plates 2 of the connecting units 1 are brought to abut against the respective vertical lateral sides 310 of the base rod 31, and are fixed thereto through respective fasteners 4″, such as bolts in combination with nuts and washers. The oblique plate portions 21 of the vertical end plates 2 of the connecting units 1 are also brought to abut against the respective vertical faces 320 of the oblique support rod 32, and are fixed thereto through respective fasteners 4′, such as bolts incorporating nuts and washers.
When the support assembly (B) is exposed to rain, rainwater flows down to the ground through the oblique support rod 32 (rather than entering the connecting units 1), and dries up easily. Therefore, corrosion of the horizontal legs 30, the base rod 31, and the oblique support rod 32 can be reduced. Further, since the horizontal plate portions 20 of the vertical end plates 2 of the connecting units 1 close the open ends 100 of the tubular sleeves 10, respectively, it is not possible for the rainwater to enter the tubular sleeves 10, so that corrosion of the tubular sleeves 10 is minimized.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the support assembly according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the vertical end plate 2 of each connecting unit 1 further has a first reinforcing rib 22 projecting horizontally from a bottom end of the horizontal plate portion 20 and extending over a bottom side of the base rod 31, two second reinforcing ribs 22′ projecting horizontally from a top end of the horizontal plate portion 20 and extending over the top side 312 of the base rod 31, and two third reinforcing ribs 23 projecting respectively from two opposite ends of the oblique plate portion 21 and extending over two opposite sides 321 of the oblique support rod 32 that are transverse to the vertical faces 320. As such, not only is the structural strength of the horizontal plate portions 20 and the oblique plate portions 21 of the vertical end plates 2 of the connecting units 1 enhanced, but also, the base rod 31 is restrictively and stably clamped between the first and second reinforcing ribs 22, 22′, and the oblique support rod 32 is restrictively and stably clamped between the third reinforcing ribs 23.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A support assembly for a hammock, comprising:

a horizontal base rod having two opposite vertical lateral sides;

an oblique support rod extending upwardly and obliquely from said base rod, said oblique support rod having two opposite vertical faces oblique to said vertical lateral sides of said base rod, respectively;

two horizontal legs projecting transversely and respectively from said two opposite vertical lateral sides of said base rod; and

two connecting units each connecting one of said horizontal legs to said base rod, each of said connecting units including a tubular sleeve, and a vertical end plate fixed integrally to and closing one open end of said tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve being sleeved onto one of said horizontal legs opposite to said vertical end plate, said vertical end plate having a horizontal plate portion that closes said open end of said tubular sleeve and that is fixed to and that abuts against one of said vertical lateral sides of said base rod, and an oblique plate portion that extends obliquely from an intermediate portion of said horizontal plate portion and that is fixed to and that abuts against one of said vertical faces of said oblique support rod.

2. The support assembly for a hammock of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners each extending through said vertical end plates of said connecting units and said oblique support rod.

3. The support assembly for a hammock of claim 1, wherein said vertical end plate further has a first reinforcing rib projecting horizontally from a bottom end of said horizontal plate portion and extending over a bottom side of said base rod, two second reinforcing ribs projecting horizontally from a top end of said horizontal plate portion and extending over a top side of said base rod, and two third reinforcing ribs projecting respectively from two opposite ends of said oblique plate portion and extending over two opposite sides of said oblique support rod that are transverse to said vertical faces of said oblique support rod.

4. The support assembly for a hammock of claim 1, wherein each of said tubular sleeves has a rectangular cross section.