Patent Application
20200000210
The present invention relates to a hammock, and more particularly, relates to an inflatable hammock.
Hammocks have been known and continue to be developed. In general, the hammock has a rectangle-like shape that can be adjusted so that the middle slopes based on the tension provided at the ends. Hammocks also tend to flip depending the amount of motion in the hammock.
Hammocks are commonly used for recreational purposes, but also may be used in industrial activities, Hammocks are often used as sleeping devices and may be covered or uncovered. Current hammocks suffer from several drawbacks including providing sufficient heat and/or insulation.
Moreover, current hammocks do not provide sufficient stability or comfort. For example, hammocks do not come with additional padding for comfort. Thus, many users add a pad or pillow or something similar to the sleeping surface of the hammock. In such cases, the pad or pillow tends to slide and move, thus not providing a firm, stable sleeping area. Further, in some cases, additional padding can be cumbersome to carry and its weight difficult to center under the user. There is also additional equipment necessary to secure any external padding and/or inserts of insulation.
Therefore, what is needed is a hammock that provides sufficient stability, comfort and support without the need for extra external, padding or insulation.
In one aspect, a hammock is disclosed and includes a single, integrated body including a bottom layer, a top layer, a first side layer, a second side layer, a first end, and a second end, wherein the top and bottom layer and first and second layers are inflatable. The first and second ends may include one or more devices to coupling the hammock to a structure. An end of the body may include or be formed substantially in the shape of a pillow, which may be inflatable or adjustable.
The body may be substantially rectilinear. The top layer and first and second layers may include a plurality of welds. In some embodiments, each of the welds may have s a thickness of approximately one centimeter and a distance between each weld of approximately, eight centimeters.
The hammock may include a valve for receiving air. The hammock may include, a waterproof material. In some embodiments, heat welding may be used for the top and bottom layers and first and second layers.
The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed below can be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide a device, system, and/or method for an inflatable hammock. Representative examples of the present invention, which examples utilize many of these additional features and teachings both separately and in combination, will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detail description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the present teachings
Moreover, the various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings. In addition, it is expressly noted that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is also expressly noted that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.
Devices, methods, and systems are described for an inflatable hammock with a single integrated body having a body with a first layer and second layer, a top layer and bottom layer that may be inflated and first and second ends. The term “integrate” means to combine (one thing) with another so that they become a whole.
In some embodiments, the material that forms the inflatable hammock includes any material that is light and strong enough to provide a comfortable sleeping area for a person and durable enough to hold air over long periods. In one embodiment, the material may include two layers of waterproof and/or air proof fabric that may be heat welded together to hold air in and provide comfort and insulation. In one embodiment, the fabric may be polyurethane coated nylon. Other possible materials may include polyester, nylon, Kevlar, or any other airtight, insulating, and/or puncture resistant plastic and/or fabric. In some embodiments, the hammock may include a foam layer, e.g. urethane foam, sandwiched between the top and bottom layers to provide additional insulation value and aid in inflating the body of the hammock.
In one embodiment, an inflatable body provides a thermal barrier between the user and the outside air. In some embodiments, the inflatable body may expand the available sleeping area when laying inside the hammock. In other embodiments, the hammock reduces or substantially eliminates slipping or sliding in the sleeping area when the body is inflated.
In some embodiments, the hammock may be configured with an insect netting or rainfly. In other embodiments, the hammock may be configured to placed inside a carrying sack or pouch, in other embodiments, the hammock may be the first and second ends include one or more devices to coupling the hammock to a structure. In one embodiment, the fastening device may be a carabiner and rope. In other embodiments, the fastening device may be a straps, ropes, or hooks. In other embodiment, the first end may be formed substantially in the shape of a pillow. In some embodiments, the pillow may adjustable or inflatable. In other embodiments, the body may be substantially rectilinear or substantially triangular.
Referring again to
The hammock 1 may also include a fastening device 7 coupled to a rope 11 at each end 6. In some embodiments, device 7 and rope 11 may be only coupled only to one end 6. The fastening device 7 may be a carabiner or hooks or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the rope 11 may be replaced, with straps. In some embodiments, the hammock may be secured to any structure, such as a tree.
As shown in
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled m this art. Similarly, any process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” Moreover, no element, component, nor method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the following claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . .”
Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way. It is also to be understood that the steps and processes recited in the claims need not be performed in the order presented.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/526,301 which is herein incorporated in its entirety herein.
