System for securing a camper to a truck bed

A camper mounting assembly includes mounting rails, C-channels, a front bracket, and a rear bracket. The front bracket and rear bracket are attached to the camper, and the mounting rails are attached to the bed of a truck. The C-channels are secured to the mounting rails and facilitate installing and securing the camper to the truck bed. The C-channels can be easily removed to allow access to and use of the truck bed.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to mounting systems for truck beds and, more particularly, to a system for securing a camper to a truck bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

Truck bed campers, also known as slide-in campers or cab-over campers, are recreational vehicles that slide into a truck bed and are attached to the truck. Generally, four tie-downs are positioned on the truck to provide anchor points for attaching the camper. Two front tie-downs can be mounted to the bed or frame of the truck, and two rear tie-downs are commonly mounted to the bumper of the truck. Anchors on the camper are then connected to the tie-downs on the truck using turnbuckles, which provide a certain amount of tension to secure the camper to the truck.

The turnbuckles of the existing mounting system require frequent adjustment and may require removal to access certain areas of the truck such as, for example, the gas cap. Additionally, the turnbuckles and tie-downs are on the exterior of the truck and create an aesthetically unattractive appearance.

There is therefore a need for a system for securing a camper to a truck bed which is more aesthetically appealing and provides a mounting system within the truck bed. There is also a need for a more stable system for securing a camper to a truck bed which eliminates the need for frequent adjustments.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, a camper mounting assembly is provided. The camper mounting assembly includes a front bracket, rear bracket, C-channels, and mounting rails. The front bracket and rear bracket are attached to the camper, and the mounting rails are attached to the truck. The C-channels are secured to the mounting rails and facilitate installing and securing the camper to the truck bed.

In one embodiment, at least two mounting rails are installed in the truck bed and attached to the frame of the truck so that the weight of the camper is evenly distributed over the axle of the truck. In an embodiment, the mounting rails are U-shaped with flanges that extend out from each end such that the flanges can be fastened to the bed of a truck using the pilot holes located on the flanges. In another embodiment, the mounting rails are attached to the frame of the truck using an L-bracket. It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the mounting rails may be secured to the truck frame by a variety of mounting brackets depending on the application.

When the mounting rails are secured to the truck, the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails extends above the surface of the truck bed creating a space between the mounting rail and the truck bed. In one aspect, the base of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails that is located above and opposite the truck bed includes slots for installing the C-channels to the mounting rails. The sides of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails also include complementary holes that correspond and align with each slot of the mounting rails. It should be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the number and shape of the slots and the corresponding holes may vary based on the type of installation required.

In another embodiment, the C-channels allow the camper to be easily installed in the truck bed and secured to the mounting rails. The C-channels include tabs that are secured to the C-channel and extend from the back of the C-channel in the opposite direction of the C. The tabs are sized to fit into the slots of the mounting rails and extend into the space created between the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails and the truck bed. As a result, the C-channels can be easily removed when the camper is not installed to allow for access and use of the truck bed. It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the length of the C-channels will vary based on the length of the truck bed.

In one embodiment, the tabs of the C-channels include a hole that aligns with the complementary holes of the mounting rails when the tabs are inserted into the slots of the mounting rails. In one embodiment, a pin can be used to secure the tabs of the C-channels to the mounting rails by inserting the end of the pin through the hole on one side of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails, then through the hole in the tab of the C-channel, and finally through the complementary hole on the other side of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails. In another embodiment, the end of the pin that extends through and past the side of the mounting rail includes holes for inserting a clip.

In another embodiment, the C-channels include stops that prevent the camper from sliding forward. In a further embodiment, the front ends of the C-channels that are near the passenger compartment of the truck include stops that close the C-channels and prevent the camper from sliding forward. In one embodiment, the camper mounting assembly provides for a small gap between the front of an installed camper and the truck to prevent rubbing. It should be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the number of C-channels secured to the mounting rails will vary based on the particular installation.

In one embodiment, the front bracket is mounted to the bottom of the camper. In a further embodiment, the front bracket is an L-shaped bracket such that the front bracket is secured to the bottom front of the camper and the front of the bottom of the camper. In one embodiment, the rear bracket is mounted to the bottom of the camper. In a further embodiment, the rear bracket is installed near the rear of the bottom of the camper. In an embodiment, the rear bracket is planar. In another embodiment, the front bracket and rear bracket are installed directly to the frame of the camper. In a further embodiment, the front bracket and rear bracket are constructed of ¼ inch steel.

In one embodiment, the front bracket and the rear bracket include kingpins fastened to the bottom thereof such that the kingpins align with and can be inserted into the C-channels. In one embodiment, the kingpins are welded to the front bracket and the rear bracket. The head of the kingpin is located opposite the camper and is of a sufficient width that the kingpin fits into the C-channel from the rear end of the C-channel located opposite the passenger compartment of the truck but cannot be removed through the channel opening. It would be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the number of kingpins attached to the front bracket and rear bracket will vary based on the number of C-channels used for the particular installation.

In one embodiment, the kingpins of the front bracket are aligned with the C-channels attached to the truck bed such that the camper easily slides into the truck bed. In another embodiment, once the kingpins of the rear bracket have slid into the C-channel, a pin and clip can be secured through opposing holes in the sides of the rear end of the C-channels. In another embodiment, a center bracket can be installed on the bottom of the camper centered between the front bracket and rear bracket.

In another embodiment, the camper mounting assembly is adapted for use with a transport trailer equipped for delivery of camper units. In a further embodiment, the camper mounting assembly is adapted for use for roll-off boxes and other industrial applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2illustrate an exploded view of an embodiment of a camper mounting assembly10in accordance with the present disclosure. The camper mounting assembly10includes mounting rails12, C-channels14, a front bracket16, rear bracket18, and center bracket20.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting rails12are U-shaped with flanges22that extend out from each end such that the flanges22can be fastened to the bed of a truck using the pilot holes24located on the flanges22. When the mounting rails12are secured to the truck, the U-shaped portions of the mounting rails12extend above the surface of the truck bed. The base of the U-shaped portions of the mounting rails12which are located above and opposite the truck bed includes slots26for installing the C-channels14to the mounting rails12. The sides of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails12also include complementary side holes28that correspond to each slot26of the mounting rails12. It would be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the number and shape of the slots26and the corresponding side holes28may vary based on the type of installation required.

FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate an embodiment of the C-channels14that allow the camper to be easily secured to the mounting rails12and truck bed. The C-channels14include tabs30that are secured to the C-channels14and extend from the back of the C-channels14in the opposite direction of the C. The tabs30are sized to fit into the slots26of the mounting rails12and extend into the space created between the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails12and the truck bed. In this embodiment, the tabs30also include a tab hole32that aligns with the complementary side holes28of the mounting rails12when the tabs30of the C-channels14are inserted into the slots26of the mounting rails12. As shown inFIGS. 1B and 2, a pin34can be used to secure the tabs30of the C-channels14to the mounting rails12by successively inserting the end of the pin34through the a side hole28on the side of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails12, then through the tab hole32in the tab30of the C-channel14, and finally through the complementary side hole28on the other side of the U-shaped portion of the mounting rails12. In an embodiment, the end of the pin34that extends past the mounting rail12includes holes for inserting a clip. The front ends of the C-channels14that are near the passenger compartment of the truck include stops36that close the C-channels14and prevent the camper from sliding forward. It would be appreciate by one of skill in the art that the number of C-channels14secured to the mounting rails12will vary based on the particular installation. It would also be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the location of the stops36on the C-channels14may vary based on the type of installation required.

FIGS. 7 and 8show an embodiment of the front bracket16that is mounted to the front and bottom of the camper, as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B. The front bracket16is an L-shaped bracket such that the front bracket16is secured to the bottom front of the camper and the front of the bottom of the camper. As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, a rear bracket18is installed near the rear of the bottom of the camper.FIG. 9illustrates an embodiment of the rear bracket18showing a planar configuration. The front bracket16and rear bracket18include kingpins40fastened to the bottom thereof such that the kingpins40align with and can be inserted into the C-channels14. The head42of the kingpin40is located opposite the camper and is of a sufficient width that the kingpin40fits into the C-channel14from the rear end of the C-channel14but cannot be removed through the opening in the C-channel14. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the number of kingpins40attached to the front bracket16and rear bracket18will vary based on the number of C-channels14used for the particular installation.

In this embodiment, the kingpins40of the front bracket16are aligned with the C-channels14attached to the truck bed such that the camper easily slides into the truck bed. Once the kingpins40of the rear bracket18have slid into the C-channel, a pin44and clip can be secured through opposing channel holes46in the sides of the rear of the C-channels14, as shown inFIG. 2. In another embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, a center bracket20can be installed on the bottom of the camper centered between the front bracket16and rear bracket18.