Abstract:
A camper attachment comprising a top and a shell. The shell can function as a traditional camper by itself. With the top rotated open, a sleeping area between the top and the shell can be created by rotating the top upward along a common axis with the shell. Folding sections allow the sleeping area to be expanded to accommodate adults, even on short wheelbase vehicles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an improved camper attachment having a top and a shell where the top is rotatably engaged to the shell. The top folds up to create an additional enclosed sleeping area with the top surface of the shell section.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The prior art contains many examples of ways to increase the use of an automobile or truck by attaching a folding compartment to the top of the vehicle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,561,168 discloses a collapsible enclosure which rests directly on the roof of the motor vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,725 discloses a collapsible compartment using telescoping arms to raise a roof and cables for stabilizing the structure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,460 discloses a collapsible sleeping compartment with roof extending to create two sleeping compartments attached to the roof of the vehicle.  
           [0003]    Camper shells for attachment to the open bed area of trucks of various sizes have become commonplace. The prior art also addresses camper shell extensions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,066 discloses an improved camper shell with a folding top that opens to create a sleeping area.  
           [0004]    However, the need arises for an improved camper shell that would allow the user to create a sleeping area for up to two people above the area enclosed by the camper shell itself without creating any opening into the camper shell. The reason that such an arrangement is desirable is that on long trips, such as a drive from the lower United States to Alaska, sleeping stops can be made without the necessity of unloading gear stowed in the enclosed bottom portion of the camper shell. Furthermore, such an improved camper shell would maintain the waterproof integrity of the storage area within the camper shell itself during extended periods of severe rain and wind as may be encountered on lengthy fishing and hunting trips to remote areas.  
           [0005]    An additional need is for an improved camper shell that would allow an extension of the sleeping area to accommodate adults, even when attached to short wheelbase trucks.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is an improved camper top which meets the need identified above by having a camper attachment in two sections, a top and a shell. The shell can function as a traditional camper by itself With the top rotated open, a sleeping area between the top and the shell can be created by rotating the top upward along a common axis with the shell. Folding sections allow the sleeping area to be expanded to accommodate adults, even on short wheelbase vehicles.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows the two piece camper shell mounted on a truck  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the two piece camper shell hinged at the front and in open position  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the two piece camper shell hinged at the front and in open position  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the two piece camper shell hinged at the front, in open position and with side extensions deployed.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 shows the two piece camper top hinged at the side with canvas spreader engaged.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the two piece camper shell hinged at the side, in open position and with side extension deployed.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a detail of the roof of the two piece camper shell.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a detail of the top of the shell portion of the two piece camper top.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a detail of the hinge and lifting rod of the two piece camper shell. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of camper attachment  20  mounted on truck  10 . Shell  200  is mounted on truck  10  and top  100  is mounted on shell  200 . The appearance of camper attachment  20  when closed as shown in FIG. 1 is the same whether top  100  is mounted along a common axis at the front or at the side. Shell  200  may have windows such as front window  202 , rear side window  203  and rear window  204 . Shell  200  is approximately as high as the cab of truck  10  and roof  100  extends above the cab of truck  10 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 depicts camper attachment  20  with roof  100  extended in full open position above shell  200 . Top  100  is rotatably engaged to shell  200  at hinge point  210 . One method of rotatably engaging roof  100  to shell  200  is by a piano hinge. The preferred embodiment uses a piano hinge because of the greater strength and reliability over separate hinges. However, camper attachment  20  may be constructed using separate and removable hinges so that top  100  can be detached from shell  200  and a utility rack such as a ladder rack can be mounted on shell  200 . Fabric  140  is placed in position after top  100  is fully extended. Fabric  140  may have side mounted screen  142 . Fabric  140  is attached to top  100  and to shell  200  by button snaps. The term “button snaps” as used herein means a plurality of male snaps fixed to fabric  140  and a plurality of female snaps affixed to top  100  and shell  200 . Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the use of male and female snaps can be reversed so that female snaps are affixed to fabric  140  and male snaps are affixed to top  100  and shell  200 . The button snaps are not shown. Persons of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the use of button snaps as well as alternative devices for hooking or affixing various fabrics to another fabric or to a rigid surface. The term “fabric” as used herein, means canvas, nylon, gore-tex or any material suitable for outdoor shelters which is capable of being folded and refolded numerous times without deterioration. When opened as shown in FIG. 2, camper attachment  20  provides a sleeping area. On a short truck, the area will not be sufficient for an adult.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the camper attachment  20  where top  20  has been extended from a closed position to an open position. Shell  200  may have rear view window  204 . Shell top  206  is a recessed flat surface which forms the sleeping area when top  100  is open and extended. In order to provide more space inside camper attachment  20 , after top  100  is raised, material  150  is extended toward the outside by lifting and engaging spreader bars (not shown) which are hinged to the recessed top surface of shell  200 . Window  144  and door  142  allow air to flow inside the compartment and may be opened and closed by velcro fasteners, zippers, buttons or male and female snaps.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 shows the two piece camper attachment  20  with top  100  hinged at the front and pulled upward to provide a sleeping area. In FIG. 4, right side extension  160  and left side extension  162  have been rotated from a first position folded flat with the recessed top surface of shell  200  until they are extending out over the sides of shell  200  and truck  10 . Right side extension  160  and left side extension  162  are rotatably connected to shell  200  by hinges at right side extension hinge point  161  and left side extension hinge point  163 . In the preferred embodiment, piano hinges are used. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with a variety of ways to rotatably connect right side extension  160  and left side extension  162  to shell  200 . Right side extension  160  is supported by right rod  170  anchored to shell right side  202  and right side extension bottom  164 . Left side extension  162  is supported by left rod  172  anchored to shell left side  204  and right side extension bottom  165 . Persons of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with a variety of ways to removably affix right rod  170  and left rod  172 . In the preferred embodiment, right rod  170  and left rod  172  are fixedly and rotatably engaged to the underside of right side extension  160  and left side extension  162  respectively. Right rod  170  and left rod  172  are of metal tubular construction. Right rod  170  has right rod first end  171  and right rod second end  173 . Left rod  172  has left rod first end  174  and left rod second end  175 . Right rod first end  171  and left rod first end  174  are affixed to the right side extension bottom  164  and left side extension bottom  165  respectively. Right rod first end  171  and left rod first end  172  are flatted and have a hole for receiving a pin. A small mounting (not shown) on the underside of right side extension bottom  164  and left side extension bottom  165  have holes for receiving the pin and for receiving right rod first end  171  and left rod first end  172 . The pins when inserted through the mountings and right rod first end  171  and left rod first end  172  rotatably and fixedly engage the rods to right side extension bottom  164  and left side extension bottom  165 . Right rod second end  173  and left rod second end  175  are likewise flattened and have holes for receiving a pin. Shell  200  has mount holes (not shown) on the shell right side  202  and shell left side  204  which when lined up with the holes in right rod second end  173  and left rod second end  175  will receive a locking pin that can be inserted, locked and later removed by pressure on a pin release.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 depicts camper attachment  40  with top  300  rotatably attached to shell  400  along the right side of top  300  and shell  400 . Alternatively, top  300  could be attached to shell  400  along the left side of top  300  and shell  400 . Support for top  300  is provided by piston  430 . Fabric  350  is affixed to top  300  and shell  400  to cover the open space and spreader bar  320  is rotated from a first position where it is flat against the top of shell  400  to a second position where it contacts fabric  350  pushing it out and away from shell  400 . Spreader bar  320  as depicted in FIG. 5 is typical of the spreader bars referred to in FIGS. 3, 4, and  6 . Spreader bar  320  may be made of lightweight flat or tubular metal with flattened ends with hole for connection to a mounting plate (not shown) affixed to shell  400  where a pin is used to connect the flattened ends of spreader bar  320  to the mounting plates. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will know of a variety of other ways of affixing spreader bar  320  to shell  400 . Button snaps (not shown) are used to affix fabric  350  to top  300 . Once rotated to its second position, spreader bar  320  may be affixed to fabric  350  by means of fabric ties, fabric snap connections or velcro.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a rear view of top  300  in the open position. Top  300  is rotatably attached to shell  400  by hinge  420 . In FIG. 6, left side extension  362  has been folded out from a first position in which left side extension  362  lays flat inside the recessed top surface of shell  400  to a second position in which left side extension  362  extends outward away from roof  400 . In the preferred embodiment, left side extension  362  is rotatably connected to shell  400  by means of a piano hinge. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with a variety of ways to rotatably connect left side extension  362  to shell  400 . Left side extension  362  is supported by left rod  372  which anchors to shell left side  419  and left side extension bottom  364 . Left rod  372  is attached to left side extension  362  and shell left side  419  in a manner similar to that described above for left rod  172  in FIG. 4. Fabric  351  is attached to top  300 , shell  400  and left side extension  362  by means of button snaps. Spreader bar  320  (shown in FIG. 5) is moved from a first position flat inside the recessed top surface of shell  400  to a second position pressing against fabric  350  so that fabric  350  is pushed out and away from shell  400  to position  322 . Fabric  350  is made taught by spreader bar  320  (shown in FIG. 5) and spreader bar  320  is affixed to the inside of fabric  350  by means of ties, snaps or velcro. Window  354  is representative of a screened opening to allow air and light to pass inside the sleeping area created by top  300  and roof  400 . Door  352  is representative of a screened opening to allow air and light into the sleeping area as well as a means of entering the sleeping area after fabric  350  has been positioned. While FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 depict top  300  hinged along the right axis of shell  400 , it should be understood that the invention will work in the same manner if top  300  is hinged along the left axis of shell  400 .  
         [0022]    In FIG. 6, truck  10  is shown with the tailgate down. The space defined by shell  400 , truck bed  410 , inside right wall  414 , inside left wall  414  and front wall  410  can be packed full and does not need to be disturbed in order to have a sleeping area available due to the area that can be created by top  300  when opened.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a detail view of a corner of one embodiment of a shape of roof  300  referred to as contoured roof  370 . Molded strips  371  built onto contoured roof top surface  372  add strength to top  370 . Contoured roof  370  has contoured roof first right side  377  which meets curve  375 . Curve  375  meets contoured roof second right side  373 . Structural strength is added to roof  300  by curve  375 . Contoured roof rear first side  376  meets contoured roof step  378 . Contoured roof step  378  meets contoured roof rear second side  374 . The contoured shape adds structural strength.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the right rear corner of shell  400 . Shell right side  408  rises vertically to meet first step  402 . First step  402  meets first wall  406  which rises to meet second step  404 . Second step  404  ends at top surface  405 . First step  402  allows for the edge of top  370  to rest when closed and also to provide a seal. Rain and moisture are kept out when top surface  370  is closed because the edge of top  370  is below top surface  405  of shell  400 . Alternatively, shell  400  may be shaped as shown where shell rear side  410  meets shell rear curve  407 . Shell rear curve  407  meets top surface  405 . Top surface  405  is recessed as shown below in FIG. 9. The double step contour shown in FIG. 8 may be utilized on the front, sides, and back of shell  400  and provides a mounting area for alternate tops such as a ladder rack should top  370  be removed.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a detail view of roof  300  attached to shell  400  by hinge  420 . In FIG. 9, piston  430  supports roof  300  in the open position. Shell top surface  405  is the sleeping area. Shell top surface  405  is recessed allowing extensions and spreader bars to lie flat when not deployed. Hinge  420  is attached to the inside wall of recessed shell top surface  405 . If hinge  420  is detached and top  300  removed, shell  400  can function as an enclosed cargo space. Shell top  405  can be reinforced during construction with wood slats to increase the strength of shell top  405  for supporting weight as a sleeping area.  
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Other alternatives and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.