Hitch-mounted fold-out camper

Details Hitch-mounted fold-out camper Hitch-mounted fold-out camper

1999-05-26

2001-01-30

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Camper

C296S159000, C135S088130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179368

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a camping unit solely or partly built on and supported by a vehicle hitch arm connected to a vehicles regular hitch receiver. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular camping shell utilizing a vehicle hitch receiver and/or the bumper of a vehicle as its sole support for transportation but can be used either connected or disconnected from the vehicle while in use (unfolded).
2. Description of Prior Art
Previous proposals have been patented in which existing interior and/or exterior space of a vehicle has been extended to accommodate a sleeping area. Applicant is aware of the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
U.S. Pat. No.
INVENTOR
(1)
5,066,065
Baughman
(2)
5,011,216
Baughman
(3)
4,065,166
Shoemaker
(4)
4,858,986
Whitley et al.
(5)
4,109,954
Wall
(6)
4,139,229
Cooper
(7)
4,729,594
Hoff
(8)
5,419,607
Oliveira
While these proposals address certain similar problems, particularly those related to lack of sleeping space in today's vehicles, they are all merely an extension of the vehicle's interior and/or exterior and can not be used independently of the vehicle. Also when compacted they all reside within the boundary of the vehicle significantly altering the available interior and/or exterior space of the vehicle as to negatively effect the function, economy and comfort of said vehicle.
No prior art is known, however, for a hitch-mounted camping devise that is carried on a vehicle hitch-arm, without additional support of wheels like in a trailer, but can be used independently of the vehicle when unfolded.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a fold-out living area supported and carried in its folded state by a hitch receiver and in its unfolded state by the means of height adjustable fold-out legs to the ground. In brief summary, the present invention overcomes the aforesaid problems of the prior art by providing an independent camping unit utilizing the carrying capability of a standard hitch receiver used for pulling campers, trailers, and such (without removing the function of the hitch) or alternately, in case no hitch receiver is available, clamped to a vehicle's bumper or frame. The fold-out floor sections, comprised of one or more sections, as well as the tent, mattresses and bedding accessories are all contained within the present folding camper. This invention comprises an expandable, substantially rigid floor section made of one or more floor boards hinged together in such way that they can either be unfolded to create an elevated floor space large enough for a living space or folded to fit on a vehicle's hitch arm. On this floor space is a tent semi-permanently mounted in such way to be easily erected when unfolding the floor boards. These floor-boards are further supported to the ground by means of expandable legs in such way that when unfolded, this camping unit is totally self-supported and can consequently be disconnected from the vehicle creating a vehicle-independent camper unit similar to a wheeled camper. In its folded (collapsed) state these floor sections will create a hard shell that crates the interior and tent part of the camper. The support legs are concealed within the floor sections in the collapsed state. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a device that is of a simple, inexpensive construction. Another object is to provide such device in a lightweight form that can be disassembled as a unit or in parts for storage. Consequently the tent is removable with the means of snaps and each floor section can be disconnected as an item for storage.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1712836 (1929-05-01), Mills
patent: 3756649 (1973-09-01), Wines
patent: 3863977 (1975-02-01), Hardinge
patent: 4065166 (1977-12-01), Shoemaker
patent: 4504049 (1985-03-01), Straub
patent: 4729594 (1988-03-01), Hoff
patent: 4858986 (1989-08-01), Whitley et al.
patent: 4867502 (1989-09-01), Sylvester et al.
patent: 4886411 (1989-12-01), Pieperhoff et al.
patent: 5066065 (1991-11-01), Baughman
patent: 5358298 (1994-10-01), Fate
patent: 5419607 (1995-05-01), Oliviera
patent: 5738130 (1998-04-01), Thomas
patent: 5934726 (1999-08-01), Bosset
patent: 6070925 (2000-06-01), Moldofsky
patent: 943577 (1974-03-01), None
patent: 26-24-607 (1977-12-01), None
patent: 856005 (1940-05-01), None

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