Hammock for sailboat

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6895612
  • Patent Number
    6,895,612
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, October 29, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 24, 2005
    19 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Trettel; Michael F.
    • Conley; Fredrick
    Agents
    • Gibney, Jr.; Lawrence J.
Abstract
This is a hammock for a sailboat. This invention allows the user of this specially designed hammock to maximize the space above the cabin top. It is attached at three points of attachment as described in the application and may be attached using a variety of means.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.


STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

No federal research money was used in the development of this invention.


REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

No appendix accompanies this application.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The hammock is in widespread use today but has never been successfully employed on a sailboat. One of the principal barriers to a hammock on a sailboat is the limited space that is available on the typical sailboat.


The hammock can be placed between the mast and the bow of the vessel but this position consumes much needed space that is ordinarily used for traffic on the sailboat. The placement of the hammock in that area would produce congestion and greatly limit the useable space on the sailboat.


This particular invention seeks to use the space above the main cabin by placing a specially designed hammock above that area. The hammock would have three connection points: the main mast, the main boom, and a shroud. The hammock would be designed to maximize the space that is available above the main cabin.


There may be accessories, which may be added to the hammock such as an awning. The awning is not part of the invention but is used to illustrate that other items may be added to the hammock to improve its functionality. The addition of accessories could be used without detracting from the value of this invention and also not consume additional space on the sailboat.


The sailboat hammock is a hammock with a different purpose. It is made specifically for installation on a sailboat. One of the major problems on a sailboat is the extremely limited space that is available. This hammock will maximize the space that is available. It will take advantage of space that is normally not used on a sailboat.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings.



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hammock installed on a sailboat.



FIG. 2 is an aerial view of the sailboat hammock as installed.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1 the hammock is pictured as installed from the side. It is attached to the main mast (#1), the boom (#2) and the shroud (#3). The hammock uses lines from the hammock to the attachment points. Other hardware such as snap shackles, snap hooks, or cinch straps may also be used to attach the lines that come from the hammock to the attachment points. The hammock is secured to the sailboat by these three points of attachment, which allow the user to be suspended above the main cabin top of the sailboat.


The head of the hammock is placed forward between the main mast and a shroud while the foot of the hammock is placed aft and affixed to the boom. This placement is required because of the difference in lengths of the spreader bars (#4, #5), which are employed in the hammock. The spreader bar at the head of the hammock (#4) is approximately twice as long as the spreader bar that is used at the foot of the hammock (#5); the difference in lengths is required in order to be able to place the hammock on the sailboat and avoid interference with the rigging of the sailboat. The hammock can be used on either side of the boom or two hammocks can be hung simultaneously, one on each side of the boom.


In FIG. 2 the hammock is shown from an aerial view. This shows a better view of the attachment points particularly with regard to the shroud (#3) and main mast (#1). In order to properly function the hammock must have three points of attachment. Three points of attachment must be used to accommodate the movement of the sailboat and stabilize the hammock. The typical land hammock has two points of attachment and would be unstable aboard a sailboat because the movement that is encountered on a sailboat is not appreciated on land. The points of attachment may be varied depending on the type of vessel and what may be available aboard the particular type of sailboat.


The hammock has an asymmetrical design, which is wider at the head and narrower at the foot that allows for comfort as well as freedom from obstruction with the rigging of the boat.


Extra hardware may be utilized to attach the lines, which come the attachment points.

Claims
  • 1. This is a device, which is a sailboat hammock, and is comprised of: a. spreader bars; b. points of connection/ and c. attachment points;
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
1181508 Davis May 1916 A
3526909 Kotler Sep 1970 A
5327842 Bailey Jul 1994 A
5474010 Marcus Dec 1995 A
5788327 Gregory Aug 1998 A