Need ideas for a bus hammock - bear with me it's a long post

[DuctTape]

I thought I saw something like this in one of the vintage patent threads. Someone designed a hammock/chair for use on railroad seats. Either that or I am daft.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I thought I saw something like this in one of the vintage patent threads. Someone designed a hammock/chair for use on railroad seats. Either that or I am daft.

you aren't daft.
<shameless plug>
I put a picture of that in the video companion to my vintage hammock entry. Right at 2:54-2:56.
</shameless plug>

There is a key difference though, in that the railway hammock was in line with the seats, rather than across the seats. The patent cleverly fails to mention just how the occupant gets in and out of it!

Grizz without shame

[GrizzlyAdams]

The toughest adjustment may be getting the right sag. Too much and I'll be a banana and the circulation in my legs will be cut off. Too little and I risk sliding out into the aisle all night. I should be able to roll up or out the material to get the right drape. I may go with a 2x2 and router the center to round of the edges but leave the square ends to help prevent it from rolling.

another idea on adjustable body length, i.e. sag. Use fabric doubled over for the body, and at one end make a series of adjacent channels. All you need for a channel "wall" is a pair of stitches about 1/4 apart, going across the short edge of the fabric. Decide what sag you need for a given bus, and set it by slipping the dowel through the channel that gives you that sag.

Grizz

[Just Jeff]

If you're ok getting the pressure points under your legs from the lower dowel, your idea is probably the simplest and most functional, and adaptable to different bus types. I like it. And since you're on a bus you can always put a pillow from butt to thighs to lessen the pressure.

If you have a foot loop your knee will eventually get tired from staying locked. Might want to rig a knee loop as well.

Adjustable sag would be good b/c different busses may have seat widths. You could do this by running a cord thru a channel on the left and right sides, and out the ends. To shorten the fabric, roll it around one of the dowels and lash it off...either to the dowel if you can keep the fabric from spinning or to the seats somewhere. Have to play with that to perfect it, but it would also let you adjust for eventual fabric stretch.

[Troglodyte]

I've thought about the foot loop being more of a lower leg sling that would about a foot or so long that would support the whole lower leg. If adjusted correctly it would be like the foot rest on a recliner. The angle would keep the pressure off the lower dowel.

[Just Jeff]

Got it - that would solve the knee problem and the dowel problem.

[Troglodyte]

Yahoo!!!

Just thought I'd share my prototype/on the way to finished project. Just a quick picture before I'm off to the store to get the last doo-dads I need.

You'll have to imagine the bus seats until I get back up to the bus for the final fitting.

DSCN1395.JPG

I even sewed a patch pocket on the upper left (if in the hammock) for a phone or Ipod.

Took a couple of hours to work my way through the fitting and sewing.

For attachment to the seats I'm going to use 1" strap with a larkshead around the dowel and...thanks to this site...RINGS...to adjust the strap to fit.

On Grizzley's suggestion I sewed three sleeves at the butt end to adjust the length. Even just hanging my thighs over the butt dowel wasn't to uncomfortable. I think I can manage without the foot loops.

Off to Wally for some fabric to make my wife one and few other doo-dads.

I'll get things wrapped up and get some more pictures up tomorrow.

Thanks all