Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Camper
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-16
2001-09-04
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Camper
C296S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283536
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pickup camper devices and more specifically it relates to a pickup truck folding camper system for folding into a compact position during nonuse and for expanding into a spacious camper while positioned upon a pickup.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Camper devices have been in use for years. Typically, a conventional camper has a floor, front and rear walls, side walls and a roof forming a rigid and rectangular structure. For conventional campers designed to fit upon a conventional pickup, the main problem is that the overall width is limited because of road restrictions and safety concerns.
Therefore, the interior portion of a conventional camper designed for a conventional pickup is typically not comfortable for extended stays. In addition, many conventional campers have a width that is much wider that the pickup making it difficult to navigate around objects. Also, the overhang is dangerous to individuals walking around the conventional camper when not in use because they may engage the overhang with their bodies.
Examples of patented camper include U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,375 to Bowen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,370 to Rice; U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,484 to Robertson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,429 to Dawes; U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,911 to Mulligan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,932 to Whiteman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,429 to Hodges; U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,924 to Kottke; U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,772 to Haile; U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,960 to Benignu, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,974 to Patnode; U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,633 to Moore et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,330 to Brown; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,067 to Jolin which are all illustrative of such prior art.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for folding into a compact position during nonuse and for expanding into a spacious camper while positioned upon a pickup. Conventional campers are difficult to navigate a pickup with because they block view with the side mirrors. Also, conventional campers are prone to engaging objects near the vehicle making them a hazard.
In these respects, the pickup truck folding camper system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of folding into a compact position during nonuse and for expanding into a spacious camper while positioned upon a pickup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of camper devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new pickup truck folding camper system construction wherein the same can be utilized for folding into a compact position during nonuse and for expanding into a spacious camper while positioned upon a pickup.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pickup truck folding camper system that has many of the advantages of the camper devices for pickups mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pickup truck folding camper system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art camper devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame formed to fit within the bed of a pickup, a plurality of corner jacks removably attached to the frame, a plurality of telescoping support poles extending upwardly from the frame supporting a roof, a pair of support wings pivotally attached to opposing sides of the frame, middle enclosures for enclosing a middle portion between the roof and the frame, and a pair of end enclosures for enclosing the opposing side portions of the support wings. A lower opening within the frame enclosed by a full door provides access to the interior of the frame when the roof is extended upwardly. A partial door is utilized to enclose the lower opening when the roof is contracted upon the frame in the storage position. A pair of support arms preferably extend upwardly from the corner jacks to engage and support a pair of extended members that support the support wings on opposing sides of the frame.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pickup truck folding camper system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a pickup truck folding camper system for folding into a compact position during nonuse and for expanding into a spacious camper while positioned upon a pickup.
Another object is to provide a collapsible portable camper system that folds into a compact storage position.
An additional object is to provide a collapsible portable camper system that expands forming a spacious interior for individuals to utilize.
A further object is to provide a collapsible portable camper system that is removably positionable upon a conventional pickup.
Another object is to provide a collapsible portable camper system that does not interfere with the normal operation of the pickup while attached to the pickup.
An additional object is to provide a collapsible portable camper system that is easily extended and retracted by a single user.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3466082 (1969-09-01), Branch
patent: 4294484 (1981-10-01), Robertson
patent: 6170502 (2001-01-01), Pullen
Muzyka Maria D.
Muzyka Yaroslow I.
Engineers on Wheels Inc.
Pedder Dennis H.
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