SINGLE PIECE HAMMOCK STRAP WITH INTEGRAL WOVEN EYELETS

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to a hammock strap. The hammock strap includes an elongated length of strap material that is separated into a first strap and a second strap. The first strap and the second strap are woven together at one or more separation points to form eyelets between the first strap and the second strap. The first strap and the second strap may be further divided to provide a wider area of strap material.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to a single piece hammock strap with integral woven eyelets. More specifically, the hammock strap disclosed herein is useful in outdoor applications, such as, for example, supporting a hammock.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many outdoor activities require that participants camp overnight in order to fully enjoy a chosen work or recreational activity. However, camping, in many cases, is substantially less comfortable than sleeping in a bed. This lack of comfort can lead to restless sleeping, poor rest, and general fatigue, lessening the overall enjoyment of the chosen work or recreational activity for which the participants camped overnight in the first place.

Tents, sleeping pads, tarps, makeshift shelters, recreational vehicles, and other sleeping implements increase the ability of participants in outdoor activities to enjoy spending the night in the outdoors. However, these exemplary sleeping implements are not practical for use in many situations. For example, a hiker on a backpacking trip must carry tools with which to construct a shelter or the shelter itself (i.e., a tent) to the place in which the hiker intends to camp. Carrying either tools or a tent, however, presents other difficulties.

For example, when campers do not have access to a vehicle while camping, and sometimes even when campers do have access to a vehicle, a camper can be limited in the equipment that can be brought because of both excessive weight and excessive bulk. While many would consider a bed to be more comfortable to sleep in than a tent, most campers cannot carry a bed to a camping spot because the bed is too heavy to practically carry. Similarly, some tents may also be too heavy to carry when a camper considers the other items the camper must bring to increase comfort while camping. Excessive bulk is better described in terms of volume. For example, a camper may use a pack that has a finite volume and that can only hold camping comfort items of a specific size. Some camping comfort items, while not necessarily heavy, require a substantial amount of space within a pack. Thus, a camper must carefully balance the gear that can or should be brought camping with the amount of weight that can be carried and the available space in which the gear can be carried.

Hammocks have conventionally been reliable to increase camper comfort during an overnight outdoor activity while also being relatively light and relatively compact, compared to a tent, for example. The main drawback of a hammock is finding a suitable area in which to hang the hammock. In order for a camper to use the hammock under conventional conditions, a camper must find two fixed structures, such as trees, that are appropriately spaced and large enough to support the weight of the camper in the hammock. Conventionally, hammock campers use rope to tie each end of a hammock to a tree at an appropriate height. However, many times, the rope used to tie each end of a hammock slips or slides down the tree, resulting in the camper dropping to the ground. Under conventional conditions, campers would find trees with branches at an appropriate height that would prevent a tie rope from sliding down a tree. Frequently, however, other branches on the tree would have to be cut to allow the camper to stretch a tie rope around a tree. This resulted in substantial damage to trees in popular camping areas.

In response to this arboreal damage caused by campers with hammocks, many states passed laws preventing campers from damaging live trees by hanging hammocks. Accordingly, attempts were made to provide hammock tie down attachments that do not cause damage to trees. One such attempt is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,003,579, which describes a hammock support strap. Essentially, this hammock support strap provides a plurality of hook points that are folded over on each other and sewn into the strap using stitching. When one looped end of the strap is inserted in another looped end of the strap, the strap cinches down on a tree without damaging the tree. The camper may attach a hammock to one of the hook points along the length of the strap. These folded over portions of the strap provide adequate strength to support a camper's weight within the hammock.

At the same time, however, conventional hammock straps, such as the one described above, require substantial stitching by skilled seamster, which increases production costs. More problematic, however, is that the folding portion of the hooks to provide adequate strength to support a camper's weight in the hammock also substantially increases the overall bulk of conventional straps. In other words, the folded over portion of the hooks along the strap, by its very nature creates more undesirable bulk because the folds increase the overall space required to contain the strap during transport to and from a camping site.

It is therefore one object of this disclosure to provide a hammock strap useful in, but not limited to, attaching a hammock to a fixed structure, such as a tree. Another object of this disclosure is to provide a hammock strap that reduces weight and bulk. Finally, an object of this disclosure is to provide a method of making a hammock strap.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a hammock strap. The hammock strap includes an elongated portion having a first strap and a second strap, the elongated portion including a loop, wherein the first strap and the second strap are formed as a single strap at the loop and are divided into the first strap and the second strap at a division point, wherein the hammock strap further includes a connector that attaches to the first strap and the second strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of a hammock strap.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a hammock strap.

FIG. 2 illustrates a magnified view of two separation points along the hammock strap.

FIG. 3a illustrates a first end of the hammock strap.

FIG. 3b illustrates a second end of the hammock strap.

FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary hammock strap in an enhanced bulk reducing embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary hammock strap in a second enhanced bulk reducing embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary implementation of a hammock strap.

FIG. 7 illustrates an elongated portion of the hammock strap shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates the elongated portion of the hammock strap shown in FIG. 7 with optional pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific techniques and embodiments are set forth, such as particular techniques and configurations, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the hammock strap disclosed herein. While the techniques and embodiments will primarily be described in context with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the techniques and embodiments may also be practiced in other similar apparatuses.

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It is further noted that elements disclosed with respect to particular embodiments are not restricted to only those embodiments in which they are described. For example, an element described in reference to one embodiment or figure, may be alternatively included in another embodiment or figure regardless of whether or not those elements are shown or described in another embodiment or figure. In other words, elements in the figures may be interchangeable between various embodiments disclosed herein, whether shown or not.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a hammock strap 100. Hammock strap 100 is typically constructed using a flat flexible strap material. Exemplary materials for hammock strap 100 include “webbing,” a material typically made of synthetic fibers including nylon, polypropylene, polyester, Dyneema, and Kevlar. Webbing is typically constructed with a breaking strength in excess of 10,000 pounds of force. Webbing is further an ideal choice for hammock strap 100 because it is resistant to abrasion, has relatively little stretch under a load, does not damage trees, and is not particularly sensitive to ultra-violet sunlight. Hammock strap 100 is typically constructed by weaving synthetic fibers together to produce the flexible strap material in the configuration of hammock strap 100.

Hammock strap 100 may be woven from these synthetic fibers such that hammock strap 100 begins with an elongated section 135 of flexible strap material between loop 125 and an eyelet 120n. Hammock strap 100 terminates on an eyelet end 110a and fixed end 110b hammock strap 100. In general, terminating hammock strap 100 at eyelet end 110a may be a result of either sewing strap portion 105 to an eyelet strap portion 115 or, alternatively, weaving fibers from strap portion 105 into fibers from eyelet strap portion 115 to create loop 130. Terminating hammock strap 100 at fixed end 110b may also be a result of either sewing an elongated section 135 of flexible strap material back on itself or, alternatively, weaving fibers from an elongated section 135 of flexible strap material back into itself at another point on elongated section 135 of flexible strap material to create loop 125b. The termination of hammock strap 100 will be further discussed below.

Hammock strap 100 may be constructed as a single piece. For example, while synthetic fibers are being woven together to create hammock strap 100, the synthetic fibers may be separated such that a strap portion 105 and an eyelet strap portion 115 are woven as individual straps from the elongated section 135 of flexible strap material. More simply, the thickness (or alternatively the width) of hammock strap 100 may be divided in half such that strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 become separate lengths of flexible strap material which are re-connected at various points along hammock strap 100. After a desired length of flexible strap material is created for both strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115, strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 may be rejoined together at a separation point, such as separation point 115a. Separation points 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d to 115n refer to points along hammock strap 100 where the separated strap portion 105 and the separated eyelet strap portion 115 may be woven together and re-separated successively to form eyelets 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d to 120n. Accordingly, hammock strap 100 is woven such that hammock strap 100 may be divided into a strap portion 105 and an eyelet strap portion 115 that may be selectively rejoined into hammock strap 100 at two or more separation points (e.g., 115a and 115b) along the length of hammock strap 100, forming one or more eyelets (e.g., 120a)

As shown, n number of separation points 115a-115n may join and separate, by selectively interweaving, strap portion 105 to/from eyelet strap portion 115, although preferable implementations will include between 2 and 15 separation points 115a-115n. Separation points 115a-115n each form a corresponding eyelet 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, to 120n between strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115. Since eyelets 120a-120n are formed by separation points 115a-115n, and n number of separation points 115a-115n may be implemented along strap portion 105 using eyelet strap portion 115, n number of eyelets may also be implemented between strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115. As before, however, preferable implementations of hammock strap 100 will include between 2 and 15 eyelets 120a-120n between strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115. In contrast to eyelets 120a-120n, eyelet end 110a and fixed end 110b of hammock strap 100 are terminated using loop 125 and loop 130. Loops, herein, are distinguished from eyelets in that loops are created in eyelet end 110a and fixed end 110b by sewing using a series of sewing stitches referred to as a bartack or by interweaving the elongated section 135 of flexible strap material back on itself or to eyelet strap portion 115, as described above. A bartack stitch, as used herein, means any number of individual stitches that connect one section of a strap to another section of a strap across substantially the entire width of the strap.

Loop 125 on fixed end 110b is shown in FIG. 1 as being terminated by looping the elongated section 135 of flexible strap material back on itself and stitching the elongated section 135 of flexible strap material to itself using four bartack stitches. Alternatively, loop 125 may be created by weaving the elongated section 135 of flexible strap material back into itself. Loop 130 on eyelet end 110a, however, is created by stitching an end of eyelet strap portion 115 to strap portion 105 using four bartack stitches. Alternatively, loop 130 may be created by weaving strap portion 105 into eyelet strap portion 115. Of course, while four bartack stitches are shown in FIG. 1, any number of bartack stitches may be used to join loop 125 and loop 130.

In practice, strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 are separated from each other by altering the weaving technique used to create hammock strap 100. Strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 begin as a single elongated section 135 of webbing, for example, that forms hammock strap 100. The length of eyelet strap portion 115 may vary depending on the number of eyelets 120a-120n that are created by interweaving strap portion 105 and strap portion 115. In one embodiment, eyelet strap portion 115 is separated from strap portion 105, forming a first one of separation points 115a-115n. In this embodiment, a second one of separation points 115a-115n is again created by weaving eyelet strap portion 115 into strap portion 105 and then re-separating eyelet strap portion 115 from strap portion 105. Along strap portion 105, a length of flexible strap material between the first one of separation points 115a-115n and the second one of separation points 115a-115n is less than a length of flexible strap material between the first one of separation points 115a-155n and the second one of separation points 115a-155n along eyelet strap portion 115. Thus, because there is a longer portion of webbing between two separation points along eyelet strap portion 115 than there is between the two separation points along strap 105, an eyelet 120a-120n is formed between the two separation points on hammock strap 100. Further separation points 115a-115n are similarly formed until the desired number of eyelets 120a-120n are created along hammock strap 100. In one embodiment, the sizes of each eyelet 120a-120n are consistent along the length of hammock strap 100. As mentioned above, when the desired number of eyelets 120a-120n is achieved by weaving an appropriate number of separation points 115a-115n, strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 are sewn together using bartack stitching or woven together to form loop 130 at eyelet end 110a. Similarly, loop 125 is formed by sewing an end of strap portion 105 back into itself or weaving an end of strap portion 105 back into itself to form fixed end 110b. Accordingly, hammock strap 100 is formed.

The weaving/separating of strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 at separation points 115a-115n provides a number of advantages. First, weaving fibers of eyelet strap portion 115 into the fibers of strap portion 105 is typically performed by a machine, which reduces labor and production costs when compared to conventional straps. Second, weaving strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 at separation points 115a-115n provides a connection that is stronger than conventional straps that are folded over and manually sewn together. Third, weaving strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 at separation points 115a-115n provides a mechanical connection point between the fibers of strap portion 105 and the fibers of eyelet strap portion 115, which substantially maintains the original breaking strength of the material, for example webbing, that is used to construct hammock strap 100. This mechanical connection between the fibers of strap portion 105 and the fibers of eyelet strap portion 115 is superior to other methods of connection such as heat welding, sonic bonds, adhesive based connections, metal fasteners, or other methods of connecting straps that are known in the art. These other methods of connection are more likely to fail under pressure or a load because these other methods of connection have a much lower breaking strength than, for example, the webbing itself. For example, the breaking strength of heat welding, sonic bonds, or adhesive based connections, relies on the strength of the weld, the bond, the adhesive, or other connections to maintain the connection. Frequently, the breaking strength of heat welding, sonic bonds, adhesive based connections is drastically lower than the breaking strength of the webbing itself introducing failure points at the connections. Thus, because the strength of a woven connection maintains substantially the same breaking strength as the original strap, failure points are eliminated. Thus, a woven connection is superior to these other methods of connection.

While conventional folded over and sewn connections are fairly strong, these connections add additional undesirable bulk to the strap. A woven strap eliminates the bulk created by folded over and sewn connections. For example, a folded and sewn connection in a strap increases the thickness of the strap at the fold to over three times the thickness of the initial strap, when the stitching is included in the overall thickness of the strap at the fold. The thickness of the woven connection at separation points 115a-115n is the same thickness of hammock strap 100 from which strap portion 105 and eyelet strap portion 115 are separated.

As used herein, the term weaving means interconnecting one or more fibers to either form a flexible strap material or to interconnect one or more fibers of one section of a strap with one or more fibers of another section of a strap. Fibers, which form one strap portion, are integrally wrapped around or between fibers from another strap portion in a manner that fastens the two sections of strap together in a permanent fashion. Weaving should not be confused with sewing in which one or more threads that do not make up any portion of a strap to be connected to another is successively inserted through two or more layers of strap material by a needle to form sewn stitches (i.e., sewn by a machine using one or more sewing threads in a chain stitch, a lockstitch, an overlock stitch, or coverstitch.)

In practice, hammock strap 100 may be used to support a load at any height by connecting the load to any one of eyelets 120a-120n. For example, hammock strap 100 may be attached to a fixed structure, such as a tree, by wrapping hammock strap 100 around a tree. Eyelet end 110a may be inserted through loop 125 in fixed end 110b and pulled such that loop 125 surrounds hammock strap 100. Pulling on eyelet end 110a therefore tightens hammock strap 100 around the exemplary tree. Once hammock strap 100 is tightened to the exemplary tree, each of the individual eyelets 120a-120n or loop 130 become points at which a load may be connected to hammock strap 100. In other words, each of the individual eyelets 120a-120n or loop 130 allow a load to be attached at a particular height along hammock strap 100. For example, if a user wished to attach a load as low to the ground as possible once hammock strap 100 is tightened around an exemplary tree, the user may attach the load to loop 130. If, alternatively, a user wished to attach a load as high above the ground as possible once hammock strap 100 is affixed to an exemplary tree, the user may attach the load to eyelet 120n. Similarly, the user may adjust the height of a load supported by hammock strap 100 as appropriate for any application by attaching the load to any of eyelets 120a-120n or loop 130. In another embodiment, hammock strap 100 may include an elongated section 135 between loop 125 and eyelet 120n that accommodates a large diameter tree. Thus, when hammock strap 100 is attached to a tree, elongated section 135 may allow each of eyelets 120a-120n to be accessible in that each one of eyelets 120a-120n passes through loop 125 before hammock strap is tightened to the tree.

While applications for use of hammock strap 100 abound, in one embodiment, two of hammock straps 100 may be used to provide anchor points for a hammock. Since a user may select any eyelet 120a-120n along the length of hammock strap 100 as an attachment point for a hammock, the user may have a much wider range in which acceptable fixed structures may be located to secure a hammock. Further, the user may choose to angle one end of the hammock to be higher than another by attaching, for example, a hammock to eyelet 120a on one of hammock strap 100 while attaching a second end of a hammock to loop 130 on a second hammock strap 100. Other exemplary uses for hammock strap 100 include securing a water vessel at a height suitable for cooking or bathing, securing food or other wildlife attractants in the air between trees, or securing a pack off the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a magnified view of hammock strap 200 including a strap portion 205, similar in description to strap portion 105 shown in FIG. 1; eyelets 210a and 210b, similar in description to eyelets 120a and 120b shown in FIG. 1; eyelet strap portion 215, similar in description to eyelet strap portion 115 shown in FIG. 1; and separation points 215a and 215b, similar in description to separation points 115a and 115b shown in FIG. 1. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, while only eyelets 210a and 210b are shown in FIG. 2, any number of eyelets may be implemented along strap portion 205. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, separation point 215a and separation point 215b may be implemented by a weaving technique that secures eyelet strap portion 215 to strap portion 205 at various points along hammock strap 200. Eyelet 210b, for example, is therefore created by separation point 215a being positioned along strap portion 205 in an anterior relation to eyelet 210b and by separation point 215b being positioned along strap portion 205 in a posterior relation to eyelet 210b, thereby forming eyelet 210b. Each eyelet along strap portion 205 is similarly created to form hammock strap 200.

FIG. 3a illustrates fixed end 310a of hammock strap 300a. Hammock strap 300a includes elongated section 305, similar in description to elongated section 135, shown in FIG. 1; fixed end 310a, similar in description to fixed end 110b, shown in FIG. 1; and loop 315, similar in description to loop 125, shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3a illustrates the creation of loop 315 by sewing one end of elongated section 305 to itself to form loop 315 and fixed end 310a. While four bartack stitches are shown in FIG. 3a, this is merely representative of stitching that may be employed to secure the one end of elongated section 305 to itself to form loop 315 and fixed end 310a. Loop 315a may also be created by weaving an end of strap portion 305 back into itself. Fixed end 310a terminates hammock strap 300a on one end.

FIG. 3b illustrates an eyelet end 310b of hammock strap 300b. Hammock strap 300b includes strap portion 305, similar in description to strap portion 105, shown in FIG. 1; eyelet end 310b, similar in description to eyelet end 110a, shown in FIG. 1; loop 320, similar in description to loop 130, shown in FIG. 1; connection point 325, similar in description to connection point 115a, shown in FIG. 1; eyelet 330a, similar in description to eyelet 120a, shown in FIG. 1; and eyelet strap portion 335, similar in description to eyelet strap portion 115, shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3b illustrates the creation of loop 320 by sewing one end of strap portion 305 to an end of eyelet strap portion 335 to form eyelet end 310b. While four bartack stitches are shown in FIG. 3b, this is merely representative of stitching that may be employed to secure the one end of strap portion 305 to an end of eyelet strap portion 335. Alternatively, strap portion 305 may be woven into eyelet strap portion 335 to form loop 320 on eyelet end 310b. Eyelet end 310b terminates hammock strap 300b on an end opposite of fixed end 310a, shown in FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of hammock strap 400 which eliminates additional bulk from hammock strap 400. As shown in FIG. 4, strap portion 405 is tapered from fixed end 410b to eyelet end 410a. In a similar fashion to that described above, strap portion 405 and eyelet strap portion 415 are separated from hammock strap 400 during the weaving of hammock strap 400, essentially separating a single piece of flexible strap material into two separate strap segments. Strap portion 405 is then interwoven/separated at separation points 415a, 415b, 415c to 415n with eyelet strap portion 415 to form eyelets 420a, 420b, 420c to 420n. Loop 425a is formed by sewing an elongated section of hammock strap 400 back into itself, illustrated, merely for representative purposes, using four bartack stitches. Alternatively, loop 425a may be created by weaving a portion of hammock strap 400 back into itself. Loop 425b is formed by sewing an end of strap portion 405a to an end of eyelet strap portion 415, illustrated, merely for representative purposes, using four bartack stitches. Alternatively, loop 425b may be created by weaving a portion of strap portion 405 into eyelet strap portion 415.

In order to further reduce the bulk and weight of hammock strap 400, hammock strap 400 may be tapered in an elongated section of hammock strap 400 between loop 425a and eyelet 420n, corresponding to elongated section 135 shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the elongated section of hammock strap 400 includes taper 430 which tapers hammock strap 400 from a full width down to half of the full width. In other words, if hammock strap 400 is implemented using a one inch wide webbing strap, taper 430 tapers hammock strap 400 to one half of an inch between loop 425a and eyelet 420n. In one embodiment, strap portion 405 and eyelet strap portion 415 are formed using the tapered width of hammock strap 400. For example, if strap portion 405 tapers to one half of an inch, eyelet strap portion 415 is also formed by weaving a one half of an inch wide webbing strap. Eyelet strap portion 415 may therefore be woven, as described above, with strap portion 405 to form separation points 415a, 415b, 415c to 415n and eyelets 420a, 420b, 420c to 420n. Tapering the width of hammock strap 400 and using a less wide strap portion 405 and eyelet strap portion 415 reduces both the weight and bulk of hammock strap 400 since less material is used in construction of the strap than would be used if the strap was not tapered.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of hammock strap 500 which eliminates additional bulk from hammock strap 500. As shown in FIG. 5, hammock strap 500 is tapered from fixed end 510b to eyelet end 510a. In a similar fashion to that described above, strap portion 505 is interwoven at separation points 515a, 515b, 515c to 515n with eyelet strap portion 515 to form eyelets 520a, 520b, 520c, to 520n. Loop 525 is formed by sewing or weaving an elongated section of hammock strap 500 back into itself, illustrated merely for representative purposes, using four bartack stitches. Loop 525 is formed by sewing or weaving an end of strap portion 505 to or into an end of eyelet strap portion 515, illustrated merely for representative purposes using four bartack stitches.

In order to further reduce the bulk and weight of hammock strap 500, the elongated section of hammock strap 500 may be tapered between loop 525a and eyelet 520n by taper 530. Taper 530, as discussed above with respect to taper 430 in FIG. 4, provides the additional benefits of reduced overall bulk and weight of hammock strap 500. However, FIG. 5 illustrates another independent bulk reducing alternative that may be used whether hammock strap 500 is tapered or not.

As shown in FIG. 5, eyelets 520a, 520b, 520c to 520n are formed such that the length of eyelet strap portion 515 in any one of eyelets 520a, 520b, 520c, to 520n is approximately the same as the length of strap portion 505 between any two of separation points 515a, 515b, 515c, to 515n. Thus, very little slack is provided within each of eyelets 520a, 520b, 520c, to 520n and the overall size of each of eyelets 520a, 520b, 520c, to 520n is reduced in comparison with hammock strap 400, shown in FIG. 4, for example. Accordingly, the amount of material used to form hammock strap 500 is correspondingly reduced which, in turn, reduces the overall bulk and weight of hammock strap 500.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the invention to the precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, components described herein may be removed and other components added without departing from the scope or spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein or the appended claims.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a hammock strap 600. Hammock strap 600 may be implemented in a manner similar to that described herein, particularly with respect to FIG. 1. As shown hammock strap 600 includes a strap portion 605 which is composed of a plurality of eyelets 620a-620n. Eyelets 620a-620n may be implemented as described herein, particularly with respect to FIG. 1. Hammock strap 600 may further include an elongated portion 615 which extends between a loop 610 and a first eyelet 620a. Elongated portion 615 may be suitable for minimizing damage to trees as hammock strap 600 is attached to a tree, as will be discussed below.

Elongated portion 615 of hammock strap 600 may be implemented from two separate pieces of strap material (630a/630b), as disclosed herein. However, elongated portion 615 may be implemented by dividing strap 630a from strap 630b at division points 625a and 625b. For example, straps 630a/630b may be divided from each other (or rejoined as the case may be) at division point 625a. Similarly, the straps 630a/630b may be divided from each other (or rejoined as the case may be) at division point 625b. At division points 625a/625b, straps 630a/630b may be separated or combined depending on the perspective from which hammock strap 600 is viewed. In any case, division points 625a and 625b identify locations along hammock strap 600 where straps 630a/630b are divided to create elongated portion 615. Division point 625a is bounded by stitching that separates the elongated portion from loop 610. Division point 625b is bounded by a first eyelet 620a wherein straps 630a/630b are woven to create eyelet 620a. Thus, division points 625a and 625b bound elongated portion 615. Straps 630a/630b may be divided from each other at an angle at division points 625a/625b in a manner that increases the area over which load may be applied to a tree. For example, the angle at which straps 630a/630b separate may be an angle of between 20° and 45°.

Elongated portion 615 may further include one or more connectors, represented in FIG. 6 as connectors 635a-635n and may serve to connect and evenly spread a load between straps 630a/630b. Connectors 635a-635n may include stitching and secure straps 630a/630b from each other at a width no longer than a length of connectors 635a-635n.

In practice, strap portion 605 may be inserted through loop 610 around a stand or, for example, a tree. In this case, as strap 605 is drawn through loop 610, elongated portion 615 tightens around the tree. Since narrower straps may cause damage to the tree by applying too much force in a small area, the area of the tree to which load is applied may be reduced on a per-area unit, by enlarging the area to which the same load is applied. This has been shown that even large loads can be supported by hammock strap 600 without damage to a tree.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an inset portion 700 which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates elongated portion 615 of hammock strap shown in FIG. 6 with particular respect to the inset 700 shown in FIG. 6. Hammock strap 600 may also be referred to as hammock strap 700. Hammock strap 700 may include a strap 705 which may be woven together as discussed above with reference to previous figures. Strap 705 may be implemented with a sewn loop 710 that is affixed to itself by a plurality of bartack stiches 715, that secure straps 725a and 725b together at loop 710. Straps 725a and 725b may be divided from each other at division point 720a. In other words, strap 725a/725b may be woven together as a single strap at division point 720a, and then divide at division point 720 into strap 725a and strap 725b. Straps 725a/725b may proceed until division point 720b where straps 725a/725b may be rejoined and proceed with, for example, strap 605 and eyelets 620a-620n, as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, it is noted that strap 725a/725b may have a thickness of half of the single strap after strap 725a/725b are divided, as disclosed herein. It should be noted that a “division” point may refer to a point at which straps 725a-725b divide from each other or are rejoined with each other, as appropriate. For example, if straps 725a/725b are divided from each other at division point 720b, division point 720b may also be referred to as a “division point” even though it is a point at which straps 725a/725b rejoin. Similarly, if straps 725a/725b are divided from each other at division point 720a, division point 720b may also be referred to as a “division point” even though it is a point at which straps 725a/725b rejoin. In the alternative, 725a/725b may be referred to as a “division point” and a “unification point,” respectively, or vice versa.

Straps 725a/725b may be connected to each other by one or more connectors. As shown in FIG. 7, three connectors 730a, 730b, and 730c are shown. However, this is merely representative, and any number of connectors may be implemented as previously discussed with respect to FIG. 6. Connectors 730a-730b may be disposed as substantially 90° to straps 725a/725b such that connectors 730a-730b may be orthogonal to straps 725a/725b. Each of connectors 730a-730c may be stitched with a bartack stitch (735a-735c, respectively) using stiffener thread. Straps 725a/725b may divide from each other at division points 720a/720b at a particular angle, between 20° and 45°. To ensure this angle is achieved, stitching 740a/740b may be installed to attach straps 725a/725b, respectively, in division points 720a/720b and to fix the angle of division for straps 725a/725b until a connector is reached, such as connector 730a. At this point, straps 725a/725b may parallel each other at a proscribed distance apart until after a last connector in the elongated portion and then may angle back towards division points 720a/720b. In one embodiment, connectors 730a-730c ensure that straps 725a/725b are disposed farther away from each other than a width of the single strap. In this manner, as straps 725a/725b encircle a tree, a load is spread across a larger area than with conventional single piece hammock straps.

FIG. 8 illustrates elongated portion 615 of hammock strap 700 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 with particular respect to the inset 700 shown in FIG. 6. Hammock strap 600/700 may also be referred to as hammock strap 800. Hammock strap 800 may include a strap 805 which may be woven together as discussed above with reference to previous figures. Strap 805 may be implemented with a sewn loop 810 that is affixed to itself by a plurality of bartack stiches 815, that secure straps 825a and 825b together at loop 810. Straps 825a and 825b may be divided from each other at division point 820a. In other words, strap 825a may not be woven to strap 825b at division point 820a, allowing strap 825a and strap 825b to divide from each other. Straps 825a/825b may proceed until division point 820b where straps 825a/825b may be rejoined and proceed with, for example, strap 605 and eyelets 620a-620n, as shown in FIG. 6. It should be noted that a “division” point may refer to a point at which straps 825a-825b divide from each other or are rejoined with each other, as appropriate. For example, if straps 825a/825b are divided from each other at division point 820b, division point 820b may also be referred to as a “division point” even though it is a point at which straps 825a/825b rejoin. Similarly, if straps 825a/825b are divided from each other at division point 820a, division point 820b may also be referred to as a “division point” even though it is a point at which straps 825a/825b rejoin. In the alternative, 825a/825b may be referred to as a “division point” and a “unification point,” respectively, or vice versa.

Straps 825a/825b may be connected to each other by one or more connectors. As shown in FIG. 8, three connectors 830a, 830b, and 830c are shown. However, this is merely representative, and any number of connectors may be implemented as previously discussed with respect to FIG. 6. Each of connectors 830a-830c may be stitched with a bartack stitch (835a-835c, respectively) using stiffener thread. Straps 825a/825b may divide from each other at division points 820a/820b at a particular angle, between 20° and 45°. To ensure this angle is achieved, stitching 840a/840b may be installed, respectively, in division points 820a/820b to fix the angle of division for straps 825a/825b until a connector is reached, such as connector 830a. At this point, straps 825a/825b may parallel each other at a proscribed distance apart until after a last connector in the elongated portion and then may angle back towards division points 820a/820b. In this manner, as straps 825a/825b encircle a tree, a load is spread across a larger area than with conventional single piece hammock straps.

Strap 800 may be further fitted with pad 845 which may be connected to straps 825a/825b or, alternatively, one or more of connectors 830a-830c. Pad 845 may be implemented as a single continuous pad (as shown) or may be implemented as a plurality of pads, each of which may be individually connected to straps 825a/825b or connectors 830a-830c as desired. Pad 845 may be similar to a shoulder pad on a backpack or a laptop shoulder pad and may serve to provide a cushioned connection between strap 800 and a tree. It should be noted that pad 800 may be made using any appropriate material such as plastics of any kind, textile products, foams, or any other suitable material as appropriate for a particular implementation.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A hammock strap, comprising: an elongated portion having a first strap and a second strap, the elongated portion including a loop, wherein the first strap and the second strap are formed as a single strap at the loop and are divided into the first strap and the second strap at a division point, wherein the hammock strap further includes a connector that attaches to the first strap and the second strap.

2. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein when the first strap and the second strap formed as a single strap the first strap and the second strap are woven together.

3. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the loop terminates the strap.

4. The hammock strap of claim 3, wherein the loop is secured by stitching.

5. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the hammock strap includes a plurality of connectors attaching the first strap and the second strap.

6. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the connector connects the first strap to the second strap in a manner that disposes the connector as being orthogonal to the first strap and the second strap.

7. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the elongated portion of the hammock strap includes a pad.

8. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein elongated portion of the hammock strap includes a second division point where the first strap and the second strap are rejoined.

9. The hammock strap of claim 1, further comprising a strap portion, the strap portion including one or more eyelets.

10. The hammock strap of claim 9, wherein the strap portion is implemented as a single piece of strap material which is separated into a first strap and a second strap at one or more separation points to form the one or more eyelets between the first strap and the second strap.

11. The hammock strap of claim 10, wherein the between the one or more separation points, the first and the second strap are woven back together to form the single piece of strap material.

12. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the first strap and the second strap extend from the division point at an angle between 20° and 45°.

13. The hammock strap of claim 12, wherein the division point includes stitching securing the first strap to the second strap.

14. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the connector is stitched.

15. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the division point is a point at which the first strap and the second strap are woven together as a single strap and are then divided into the first strap and the second strap.

16. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the loop terminates a first end of the hammock strap and an eyelet terminates a second end of the hammock strap.

17. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the first strap and a second strap have a thickness that is half the thickness of the single strap.

18. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the first strap and the second strap are disposed from each other by a length of the connector.

19. The hammock strap of claim 18, wherein the connector is longer than a width of the single strap.

20. The hammock strap of claim 1, wherein the first strap and the second strap between a first division point and a second division point are disposed to be farther apart than the width of the single strap.