Abstract:
A combination truck-box cover and collapsible tent-like shelter generally comprising a tonneau-type box cover adapted to contain generally all components of a tent shelter while allowing generally full access to the truck box, and especially that the shelter is adapted to extend to the end of an opened tail-gate and further so as to also be fitted to a short-box pickup truck. The bed portions thereby provide ample bed length even on a truck box of less than adequate length.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a combination truck-box cover and a collapsible tent-like shelter. The invention generally comprises a tonneau-type box cover adapted to contain components of a tent shelter while allowing generally full access to the truck box, and especially that the shelter is adapted to extend to the end of an opened tail-gate and further so as to be fitted to a short-box pickup truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been desired by truck owners to have a shelter mounted to the truck box portion of a pickup truck while also having full usage of the truck box when the shelter is in collapse mode. Furthermore, truck boxes used to be commonly made in a length of eight feet long, while today, many trucks have a box length of six feet and some even four feet. Therefore if a tent were to be adapted to the short box trucks an average height person would not likely fit the shelter. 
     The applicant is aware of several attempts in prior art to provide a truck-box with a collapsible shelter. For example, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,190 of Smith et al., issued Jun. 5, 1973, which describes a truck-box collapsible shelter wherein the unit can be erected on the ground or on the truck box itself. However, this invention fails to have the ability to extend outward toward the back of the truck to thereby allow mount ability onto short box trucks. 
     Another example of prior art may be had in referring to U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,207 of Anderson, issued Feb. 5, 1974, which depicts a hard-top truck box cover, which opens outwardly from the center to form a shelter that sleeps two person. However, this invention also fails to have the ability to extend outward toward the back of the truck to thereby allow mount ability onto short box trucks. 
     Another example of prior art may be had in referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,484 of Robertson, issued Oct. 13, 1981, which depicts a tonneau-type truck box cover, which when opened, forms a tent shelter. However, this invention not only fails to have the ability to extend outward toward the back of the truck to allow mount ability onto short box trucks, but also fails to leave full access to the truck box. 
     While many attempts have been made to provide truck owners with collapsible shelter in combination with a box cover, none of the prior art combines the benefits of: rear extending properties for short box adaptability, generally full access to the truck box, and a water-tight cover for said box. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide truck owners with a combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter while having rearward extending features that allow installation to short box pickup trucks. 
     In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tonneau-type cover adapted to contain components that make up a tent-like shelter. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the shelter may be adapted to fit as small as a four foot short-box truck thereby allowing an average height person necessary bed length for lying onto said bed. 
     Accordingly, the system of the present invention provides truck owners with a combination truck-box cover and a collapsible shelter having rearward extending features that allow installation to short box pickup trucks while leaving full access to the box when shelter is collapsed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in the collapsed position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in as fully erect shelter. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the rear of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in the box access position. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the rear of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in the initial set-up position a partial set-up position. 
     FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  are right side elevation views of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention illustrating the steps in erecting the framework and tonneau cap. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the rear of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention illustrating the cage members forming the outer fabric support. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a right side elevation view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a rear elevation view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a left side elevation view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken from FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken from FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals. 
     Turning to the drawings, in particular, FIG. 1, illustrating a rear perspective view of a pickup truck box  4  adapted with the tonneau-type cover  2  forming part of the present invention. The pickup truck&#39;s tailgate  6  is able to be opened in this collapsed position, and the tonneau cover  2  is also able to be opened by unlatching the hold-down latch  73 . Bed support brackets  7  are fixedly attached to the truck&#39;s frame and extend outwardly toward the truck box&#39;s  4  side panels  1 . 
     Turning to FIG. 2, which illustrates a rear perspective view of a pickup truck box  4  adapted with the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention comprising: a tonneau-type cover  2  having a generally planar upper surface and side member protruding downwardly from the cover&#39;s  2  perimeter, a sheet material covering  40  fitting around a structural framework and supported by diagonal support members  19  and rear vertical support members  53 . Each diagonal support members  19  is engaged to a flange bracket  71  fixedly attached the lower portion of the outer bed panels  16  and to fixedly attached bed support brackets  19 . The rear vertical support members  53  are engaged to the lower surface of the bed extension panels  17  and to the upper rear-most surface of the opened tailgate  6  by means of flange brackets  71  fixedly attached to said bed extension panels  17  and tailgate  6 . The outer bed panels  16  are supported by diagonal bed-panel supports  19 , which are engaged to bed-panel support brackets  7 , fixedly attached to the truck&#39;s frame and extend outwardly toward the truck box&#39;s  4  side panels  1 . The sheet material covering  40  is generously adapted with venting screen  41  around the vertical portion at the perimeter of the sheet material covering  40 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, a rear perspective view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in the box-access position wherein, in this opened position, the tonneau-like cover  2  is viewed housing and attached to collapsed components that make up the shelter system of the present invention. These collapsed components are hinged to a central box frame member  20  which said box frame member is releasably attached to the front most inner portion of the cover  2  by means of latch bolts  61  securedly and releasably attached to the front inner portion of the cover  2  thereby providing a secure attachment to the truck box  4  when tonneau cover  2  is in a closed position, ready for travel. In erecting the shelter system, these latch bolts  61  would therefore be relocated to fasten through the angle member  14  into the side box members  13  at each inner side of the truck box. 
     The cover  2  and collapsed shelter components are thereby combined as one lid-like structure hinged at the front most inner edge of the truck box  4  and supported by two or more compression cylinders  10 . Said cylinders  10  are pivotally attached to: the lid-like structure with an upper pivoting bracket  72 , and to the truck box  4  by means of a lower pivoting bracket  3  fixedly attached to a side box frame member  13  also fixedly attached to the inner upper vertical edge at each side of the truck box  4 . The lower pivoting bracket  3  is adapted to be releasable from the cylinder  10  in order to relieve the cylinder&#39;s pressure while the present invention is in an erected state. 
     The cover  2  and shelter assembly may be removed quickly by removing the hinge  18  pins and disengaging the pin holding the cylinder  10  to the lower pivoting bracket  3 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, a rear perspective view of the initial erection of the shelter system of the present invention wherein, to begin setup, raise tonneau cover  2  to access inner truck box compartment, attach safety sleeves  74  to piston portion of each cylinder  10 , release panel latches  67  in order to separate the bed panel portions  15  and  16  from the cover  2  portion, remove front latch bolts  61  to release cover  2  portion from shelter portion and place said latch bolts  61  through the angle member  14  then into the side box members  13  at each inner side of the truck box. The user is now able to hinge the cover  2  upwardly. The rear portion of the cover  2  is lifted first and supported by a pair of folding legs  68 , which lock in a generally upright position by means of a locking device  23  forming part of the leg  68 . A telescopic diagonal support  25  is provided comprising: an upper member  28  having a generally tubular form with two of more perforations traversing said tube, a lower member  27  also having a generally tubular form and an outside diameter of generally equal or slightly lesser outside dimension than that of the inside dimension of the upper member  28  but with one perforation traversing said tube, and a locking pin  29  adapted to longitudinally engage the upper and lower members of the telescopic diagonal support  25 . Once the cover  2  is raised and supported by the rear folding legs  68 , the user engages the telescopic diagonal support  25  located between the mid section of the rear folding legs  68  and to the central flange support  30  at the lower surface of the cover  2 . Rotary springs  78  are provided in order to assist in raising the cover  2  from the bed panel portions. 
     In reference now to FIG. 5, a right side elevation view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention as viewed in an initial setup position. A tether  65  is securedly and releasably attached to the rear cover beam  8  and to the central box frame member  20 . It must be understood that the rear folding legs  68  and cover  2  are now locked in a fixed angle in relation to each other by means of the telescopic diagonal support  25  and the cover  2  and rear folding leg assembly  68  now have a pivot point at the lower most extremity of the rear folding legs  68 . The tether  65  at this time is in a relaxed state, which will become taught upon rotably raising the front portion of the cover  2 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, illustrating the cover  2  and rear folding leg assembly  68  pivotally raised to a point where: the cover  2  surface is lever with the truck box  4 , and the tether  65  is taught thereby preventing overthrowing of the cover  2  and rear folding leg assembly  68 . Meanwhile, as the cover  2  and rear folding leg assembly  68  are pivotally raised, the front folding leg assembly  69  unfolds until the upper and lower members  36  and  34  and longitudinally aligned with each other, ready to be locked in this position by means of the leg locking device  35 . Note that the angle  70  between the cover  2  and rear folding leg assembly  68  remains the same in FIG. 6 as it was in FIG.  5 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrating the final position of the fully erect cover  2  and folding legs assemblies  68  and  69 . This position is achieved by momentarily disengaging the locking pin  29  from the telescopic diagonal support  25  thereby allowing longitudinal telescopic motion between the upper and lower members of the telescopic diagonal support  25  while the user, standing atop the opened tailgate  6 , pushes back the tethered cover  2  and folding leg assemblies  68  and  69  until the perforations within the upper and lower members of the telescopic diagonal support  25  align to allow the user to re-engage the locking pins  29  to positively maintain a squared position between the cover  2  and folding legs assemblies  68  and  69 . A second safety tether  75  is provided to prevent this last motion to send the whole units forward. These tethers  65  and  75  can be removed when the locking pins  29  are traversely engaged into both upper and lower members of the telescopic diagonal support  28  and  27  and possibly used as clotheslines inside or outside the shelter. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, a rear perspective view of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention illustrating a fill erection of the shelter system with the exception of the sheet material covering. 
     Referring momentarily now to FIGS. 9 and 10, FIG. 9 illustrating a cross sectional view taken from FIG. 4 depicting both inner and outer bed panels  15  and  16  wherein the outer bed panel  16  is folded inward against the top surface of the inner bed panel  15  by means of a continuous hinge  12  fixedly attached to an angle member  14 , which is also fixedly attached to the outer edge of the inner bed panel  15  thereby forming an assembly, which rests upon the upper surface of the side box frame member  13 . FIG. 10 depicts the outer bed panel  16  pivotally opened toward the outside of the side box frame member  13  so as to provide an even planar bed surface atop both inner and outer bed panels  15  and  16 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 12, one can see that the outer bed panels  16  are supported by diagonal bed-panel supports  19 , which are engaged to bed-panel support brackets, fixedly attached to the truck&#39;s frame and extend outwardly toward the truck box&#39;s  4  side panels  1 . 
     Now back to FIG. 8, also depicting the rear extension bed panels  17  having a width equal to the combined width of the opened inner and outer panel assembly  15 ,  16  and the side box frame member  13  thus acting as a continuance or extension of the bed surface thereby enabling an average height person ample bedding surface on which to lie even if the truck box length is of lesser length than the aforementioned person. 
     An array of strategically positioned vertical poles  52  are juxtaposed along the upper surface of the perimeter of the full bedding surface made up of bed panels  15 ,  16  and  17 . Horizontal pole members  56  and  57  are provided to hold up the sheet material covering and to help rigidify the whole pole assembly. Diagonal front pole members  50  are provided to join the vertical pole members  52  to the mating pole brackets fixedly attached to the under side at the front of the cover  2 . Rear outer diagonal pole members  51  are provided to also join the rear vertical pole members  52  to the rear portion of underside of the cover  2 . A pair of center rear diagonal pole members  55  are provided to form an alcove at the rear of the shelter so as to result in a vertically planar surface to which a zippered door is provide for egress to the shelter. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 11,  12 ,  13  and  14 , all illustrating elevation views from all side of the combination truck-box cover and collapsible shelter of the present invention wherein the sheet material covering  40  having a generous amount of venting screen  41  in the vertical portions. The sheet material covering  40  is formed to comply with the form made by the pole assembly. 
     Referring now to FIG. 15, a cross sectional view taken from FIG. 1, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the means to extend the bed panel support  19  from the truck&#39;s frame  79 . This device may be welded or bolted to said frame  79 . 
     In reference now to FIG. 16, a cross sectional view taken from FIG. 3, depicting the latch bolts  61  traversing the front box frame member  20  and angle member  14 , and securely and releasably attaching to a fixed support member of the cover  2 . This Figure also illustrates the relative position of the inner bed panel  15  and the angle member  14 . These are fixedly attached.