What is a hammock?

Those who at least once lay in a hammock should never forget these feelings. Measuring swaying calm, contributing to a good rest. A comfortable position of the body gives a feeling of weightlessness, so that the restoration of tired muscles is much faster. But few thought about whose invention this convenient bed is.

What is a hammock?

The name of the hanging bed (namely, its name is translated from the language of the South American Indians) came to us from the French. Those adopted it from the Spaniards, to whom it migrated from the language of the Caribbean Indians.

In our understanding, a hammock is a place for a pleasant stay, characterized by lightness and mobility. But once it was a vital subject that accompanied a person on a campaign.

Story

The hammock was invented by the indigenous people of America - the Indians. A hanging bed always accompanied the warrior on hikes - light and compact, when deployed, she was able to protect a sleeping person from poisonous snakes and insects, summer heat and damp forest soil.

Discovering America, Columbus noticed an easy-to-manufacture and practical novelty. It was he who introduced Europe to her, where the hammock immediately migrated to sea vessels. On a small ship, the team found it difficult to accommodate for a good rest, and the hanging bed easily solved this issue: the crew had the opportunity to get a good night's sleep without occupying the useful area of ​​the hold. The military, for whom an extra gun on board was more expensive than the convenience of sailors, used hammocks until the 20th century.

Description

Initially, it was a rectangular piece of cloth or a fishing net, which, with the help of ropes, was attached to two trunks of trees located at a convenient distance and was intended for sleeping in the lap of nature. Then it was supplemented with two transverse slats - to facilitate ease of use. In this form, he reached the modern consumer, who uses it for a short rest.

There are designer options for a hammock woven from twigs or even carved from wood. But they did not succeed in becoming popular - the original turned out to be much more convenient than alterations even when used for a short rest.

Types of hammocks by type of execution

The tourist option has retained maximum resemblance to the founder of the hanging beds. But decades of popularity could not pass without a trace, and now the hammock is represented by a line of various products that can conditionally be divided into categories:

  • suspension;
  • wireframe;
  • swing;
  • armchair.

Each of them has a number of features. So, the first option is made of coarse mesh, dense artificial or natural fabric. It stands out for its simplicity of design and low cost. But since it is difficult to find a convenient place for its placement, the frame variation of furniture was invented. This model of a hanging bed is complemented by a base and racks. The frame may be:

  • prefabricated - easy-to-mount design for temporary use;
  • stationary - more stable and durable, but rather bulky.

The swing, despite all their diversity, also came from a hammock. The basis of the design is a seat made of various materials, and two fixation points that simply moved side up.

For urban apartments, a compact version was invented, for suspension of which only one fixation point is enough. The hammock chair differs from its predecessors in the smaller size and structure of the rafter system. However, it retained the characteristic features and, most importantly, comfort.

Watch the video: What is a hammock? (March 2024).

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