Introduction: A Hammock Within Your Clothes

By Laboratoire de Synthése
About: Tinkerer from childhood on. After my retirement, together with my wife, fully committed to creative production. I prefer simple solutions for non-existing problems.

This diy project investigates the multi-functionality of clothes. In this case a built-in hanging chair. This is a proof of concept rather than a fashion design project. The WeDangle can change the way we sit drastically; it is a customized comfy seat that we carry always with us.
You can use it as a swing seat, as an armchair and as 'une chaise longue'. The only thing you need is an attachment ring above your head. I take always a tension belt along, with that I can adjust the height of the attachment point. That is also the only limitation. You can use the WeDangle, just as a hammock, on trees, with a ceiling connection or at a frame.

This invention can make standing chairs and benches obsolete. They need more space, maintenance and material. The WeDangle is a seat that suits your posture/comfort at home, at work and outdoors. Most important is the children's fun to swing and to turn around with the feet from the ground, just easy dangling.

Step 1: HD Video: How to Use the WeDangle

Features:

- The WeDangle has 3 positions: swing seat, armchair and 'une chaise longue'.

- Comfortable seat by a wide spacer bar and a wide seat and back support.

- Quick set up within 3 minutes. Easy adjustment of the seat height.

- Weight of lines, alluminium strips, carabiners 1kg. (without the canvas).

- Seat- and back support made from double folded canvas sewn in the clothes.

- Lines made from 4mm dyneema SWL 500kg. Carabiner hook 5cm SWL 70kg

- Seat support with 22cm alu strip. Back support with 15cm alu strip

- Hoody/head support with 6cm alu tube. Leg rest with a plastic strap.

- Easy transport of the WeDangle parts in vest- and trouser pockets.

Step 2: The WeDangle Construction

Anybody can make a swing; a seatplate and 2 ropes. To make a comfortable hanging seat into your clothes takes some more effort. The WeDangle is the result of trial and error.

The construction has to be strong and reliable. For the lines I used 4mm dyneema. For the spacerbar alluminium tube (4 pieces of 15cm long) from a foldable walking stick. Carabiners and rings are from steel.

The WeDangle is composed out of 5 parts.

1- Seat from canvas, inside the trouser with at both sides a pocket for an alluminium strip

2- Backrest from canvas, sewn inside the vest with side pockets and fixed support lines

3- Headrest is a canvas hoody with fixed support lines

4- Leg- and foot rest from a loop strap sewn inside the lower trouser leg

5- Suspension lines and spacerbar with carabiners, rings and knots

Step 3: Making the Seat- and Backrest

The WeDangle has 3 comfort features.


1- Use of a top spacerbar to relieve tension at the bottom and schoulders.
2- The use of aluminium strips for a wide bottom- and schoulder rest. 3- A hoody as headrest and a loop strap under the shoe as footrest.

Photo's are showing how the canvas seat- and backrest are situated in the trousers and vest. The seat is 70cm long, incl. strip pockets, and 23cm wide. The backrest is 80cm long and 20cm wide in the middle and 15cm at the sides. The canvas is double folded for extra strenght.

When the canvas is sewn it can be attached to the back of the trousers seat and at the shoulder part of the vest. First you have to open the side seam. The flap with the pocket for the strip aluminium is protruded about 7 to 10cm at the side. Halfway the strip is a hole to attach the carabiner. The low side of the pocket is closed, so the strip stays in place. Velcro keeps the pocket flaps in place.

Step 4: Making the Headrest and Leg- and Footrest

The headrest is made as a hoody. First you have to cut the outline out of canvas. This can be done by taking a sweater hoody as example size. Sewing the hoody is not that difficult for a person with some sewing experience.

I was lucky that my wife did all the sewing work; this is still something I have to learn from her. The photo shows how the lines are attached to the hoody with a carabiner at the end. Inside the seam I made an alu tube to spread the pull power of the lines.
The leg and foot rest is very inventive because it is done with a loop strap. Leg calves are resting in the lower part of the trouser legs and the feet are supported by the loop under the shoes. By doing that the trouser legs stay in place. The loop is sewn within the legs with an opening in the front with a loop to attach the carabiner.

Step 5: Making the Suspension Lines and the Bar

The bar I made from a 4 piece foldable walking stick. To carry this bar it is neccesary to have small pieces. At the end of the 60cm bar I made two slots, to keep the suspension ring in place. The bar pieces I carry inside the big pockets of the vest. The slots are about 3cm deep and 6mm wide.

All the lines have to be extended with 18cm at each side. That is neccesary because the knot needs also some lenght. There has to be some extra line for adjusting, because each person has a different body size. The photo's are showing one kind of knot for all the attachments. The lines and the straps have to be cut with a soldering iron. The ends are melted, that avoids frayed edges.

The suspension lines are made from dyneema; a super strong synthetic fiber (Dutch invention!). I bought the lines, rings and carabiners in a nautic shop. Aluminium strips are 3mm thick with a hole in the middle of 8mm diameter. Adjustment for the back- and headrest is made by a ring. The standart position is 18cm below the bar

Step 6: Conclusion

Two years ago I got the idea to make an in-clothes hanging chair. After many drawings and experiments I started this project 3 months ago. This was not an easy project to make. For the sewing work I was dependent on other people because I didn't had the sewing skills. Safety first was my approach. Falling down is no option.

The video above shows the use of the WeDangle. The result is above expectations. The WeDangle is a comfortable chair and easy to carry. All the parts I carry not noticeable with me. Dangling under a tree is a relaxing pastime. It gives you oceanic feelings; even under a tree in the city park.

I hope that this idea finds its way around the world because we humans need more rest and enjoyment. If a company wants to make this to a commercial product, don't forget to contact me for a license. I want to thank my wife Dymph, the test pilot Saskia, Ben Brack who filmed with his broadcast camera and all the friends, who gave a critical feedback and like dangling.

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