Truck bed shelter

A removable truck bed shelter for use with a truck bed having laterally spaced side ends. The removable truck bed shelter extends between and rests on the laterally spaced side ends to provide shelter to an animal housed in the truck bed. The removable truck bed shelter extends over only a portion of the open truck bed and provides a weather-resistant cover over the portion of the truck bed so enclosed. The removable truck bed shelter may be constructed as an adjustable frame with an attachable cover or as a solid piece of weather-resistant material. When constructed as an adjustable frame, telescoping center portions may be attached to the support members of the frame and include holes wherein a pin may be inserted to lock the frame in position.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to truck bed mounts, specifically to such truck bed mounts that are used to shelter animals in the back of pickup trucks.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of fixed, removable, and retractable enclosures for open areas of vehicles have been marketed and are known in the art. Some such enclosures have been designed to protect animals carried in the rear bed of pickup trucks. For instance, canvas tents have been made to attach to the bed of pick up trucks and provide shelter to dogs and people. However, these canvas tents are designed to be used when the truck is stationary, since a vehicle traveling at high speeds is subject to intense forces caused by the surrounding air. These forces can produce substantial drag and friction that work against the forward motion of the vehicle and can also cause the canvas tents to rip off and pose a hazard to other vehicles on the road. In addition, such tents often obstruct rear visibility and interfere with driving.

Other types of enclosures include hard shells that cover the truck bed to protect its contents. Typically, such shells are mounted to the open bed of the truck bed and are not easily removed. When installed, such shells prevent large objects from being stored in the truck bed, negating much of the usefulness of the pick up truck. Hard shells are also large, heavy and difficult to store.

Collapsible truck shells have been introduced that partially solve the aforementioned problems. These collapsible truck shells are typically composed of several frames of progressively decreasing sizes that, when collapsed, can be nestled within each other to form a generally planar configuration on the truck bed. However, such collapsible truck shells are not easily removed and include several distinct movable parts.

The aforementioned enclosures have proved to be difficult to install, remove, and use. In addition, the aforementioned enclosures have primarily been designed to hold cargo or provide camping shelter for persons and their pets. Furthermore, the aforementioned enclosures have presented other problems such as jamming or binding of movable parts sections as a result of the build-up of corrosion or water in their track-like devices which adversely affects the smooth operation of the enclosures. In addition, the aforementioned enclosures are often costly to purchase. The need has therefore arisen for a compact, lightweight, sturdy, and weather-resistant partial enclosure to provide shade and shelter for pets transported in the truck bed that can be easily installed and removed from a truck bed without significantly hampering the utility of having an open truck bed for cargo space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for sheltering at least a portion of the open bed of a vehicle and, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a frame with a removable cover. The frame comprises attachment members, support arches, and a means for adjusting the size of the frame to allow it to sit on truck beds of various sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problem of the aforementioned enclosures because it provides a lightweight, weather-resistant frame that fits over a portion of the truck bed and is easily removed and installed. The present invention does not significantly impair the driver's visibility and, because it only covers a portion of the truck bed, it does not significantly limit the cargo area of the truck bed. The present invention is also superior to the prior enclosures because it provides a compact shelter for animals in the truck bed, thereby protecting such animals from rain, flying debris, solar rays, and other potentially harmful elements and objects. The present invention shelters a portion of the truck bed nearest the cab to help keep sun, wind, and weather elements blocked from the area beneath the enclosure. The enclosure spans the width of the truck bed, and the frame of the enclosure can be made of any lightweight, sturdy material such as aluminum, flat metal or another metal, molded hard plastic, plastic tubing, PVC tubing, or galvanized tubing. However, in the preferred embodiment, the frame should be made of a lightweight metal.

The present invention comprises a removable cover that attaches to the frame. The aforementioned cover attaches to the frame of the enclosure in such a way as to create a shelter or shade for an animal housed beneath the enclosure, and said cover may be made of any material such as canvas, plastic, vinyl, or any other appropriate natural or synthetic material. Additionally, said cover may be made of any color, pattern, or size. In the preferred embodiment, the cover is made of a solid, weatherproof material and comprises outer sleeves that slide onto the frame of the enclosure and further comprises straps that allow the cover to be stretched tightly on the frame.

The present invention can be constructed in any size so as to fit all beds of pickup trucks, and the aforementioned frame may be constructed either fully welded or with the respective parts otherwise assembled so as to be ready for use without any assembly, or it may be constructed with partial or no welding to allow it to be shipped in a more compact package and thus require some assembly by the consumer. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the invention is a solid piece of material that requires no assembly.

The present invention can be attached to the bed of a pickup truck in several ways, such as using clamps, bolts, or ties, or any combination thereof. The present invention may be made in different shapes. For example, the frame of the present invention may form an arch over the truck bed or, alternatively, it may present a flat, raised surface and sit on top of the truck bed, resting on the rails or laterally spaced side ends of the truck bed, like a table. The present invention may optionally include a fitted rubber, neoprene, foam, or similar padded material that may be fashioned in a variety of shapes to fit the frame so as to protect the truck bed rail and help frictionally retain the frame of the enclosure to the truck bed.

Additionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, it may include a water mister similar to those typically used in greenhouses and dog kennels that could be attached to the underside of the support arches of the enclosure. Such a mister would act to cool an animal housed beneath the enclosure. The mister attached to the support arches of the enclosure may be used with a standard garden or multipurpose sprayer, preferably of the hand pump type, and such a sprayer would be attached to the mister and provide water storage and water pressure.

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are as follows:

(a) to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art in creating a removable cover for the truck bed;

(b) to provide a cost-effective truck bed enclosure that is easily installed and removed;

(c) to provide a truck bed enclosure that offers adequate shade and shelter to pets in the truck bed; and

(d) to provide a truck bed enclosure that does not significantly interfere with the cargo-carrying capabilities of the truck bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,FIG. 1is a top perspective view of an exemplary frame of an apparatus for covering at least a portion of an open bed of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. Telescoping center portions1aand1bare identical to one another and attach to support arches. Said support arches comprise linking members4a-4d, legs21a-21d, and connecting members8a-8d. Said telescoping center portions connect to said support arches by connecting directly to said linking members4a-4d. Holes are set in each of the telescoping center portions1aand1band allow the frame size to be adjusted. The exemplary embodiment of the holes are shown in5eand5ffor one of the telescoping center portions, specifically telescoping center portion1a. Pin members as shown by5aand5bare releasably inserted into the holes to lock the frame into position. Linking members4a-4dare furthermore attached to legs21a-21d, and linking members4a-4dmay be welded to legs21a-21d, or otherwise attached. Legs21a-21deach optionally include one hole that may be fitted with a corner pin, as shown by6aand6d. Attachment members3aand3bare attached to legs21a-21band21c-21d, respectively, by connecting members8a-8band8c-8d, respectively. Connecting rods2aand2battach between connecting members8a-8band8c-8d, respectively. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes an optional angle support7athat attaches to connecting member8dand attachment member3b. A similar optional angle support7bis shown in FIG.2and attaches to connecting member8aof FIG.1. These optional angle supports may be used to attach a dog restraint such as a leash or tether and, in the preferred embodiment, are positioned on the part of the frame closest to the front cab of the vehicle, though they may be positioned elsewhere. Corner pins6aand6dmay be withdrawn or depressed to allow legs21aand21dto detach from connecting members8aand8d, respectively. Not shown but implied in the figure are corner pins6band6cset into legs21band21c, respectively.

FIG. 2represents a side view of the frame, showing telescoping center portion1b, and linking members4cand4dconnected to legs21band21c. Leg21cis connected to connecting member8e, which is connected to attachment member3b. Leg21bis connected to connecting member8b, which is connected to attachment member3a. Optional angle support member7bis attached to connecting member8a, which is positioned behind8bin this side perspective and therefore not visible.

FIG. 3depicts a top view of the frame and shows the corner pins6aand6bas well as corner pins6cand6d. Also pin members5a-5dare visible.

FIG. 4is a top view of the cover that fits over the frame of the apparatus. Side straps11a-11fand interior straps17a-17jare attached to the body19of the cover. Outer straps13aand13battach to edge15a, and outer straps13cand13dattach to opposing edge15bas depicted. First and second opposing edges15aand15bare attached to the body19of the cover by connecting flaps16aand16b, respectively. Side straps11a-11fand outer straps13a-13dattach around portions of the frame. Sleeves18aand18bslide over the frame of the apparatus, specifically parts21a-21dand4a-4dand1a-1bof as depicted inFIGS. 1-3. Side straps11a-11care attached to corresponding insert clips12a-12c. Side straps11d-11fare attached to corresponding insert clips12d-12f. Insert clips12a-12csnap into the corresponding holding clips17b-17d. Insert clips12d-12fsnap into the corresponding holding clips17f-17h. Outer straps13cand13dare attached to end insert clips14cand14d, respectively. Outer straps13aand13bare attached to end insert clips14aand14b, respectively. End insert clips14cand14dsnap into holding clips17aand17e, respectively. End insert clips14aand14bsnap into holding clips17iand17j, respectively. The outer straps and side straps may be adjusted to adjust the tension of the cover when it is attached to the frame.

FIG. 5depicts the frame with the cover attached, showing how sleeves18aand18battach to the frame. Sleeves18aand18bslide over legs21b-21cand21a-21d, linking members4c-4dand4a-4b, and telescoping center portions1aand1b. First and second opposing edges15aand15battach to connecting rods2aand2b. Because the cover may slide over the support arches with either side first, either sleeve may slide over either support arch.

FIG. 6shows the frame and cover installed in the open bed of a truck. Attachment members3aand3bsecure to the laterally spaced side ends of the open bed of the truck. Any appropriate clamp, as shown by component22may be used to secure the attachment members to the laterally spaced side ends. Optionally, the water mister10can be attached to the support arches. An optional cinch bag24may be placed over the water mister for insulation.

FIG. 7depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing the frame with the legs20aand20bat approximately right angles to the linking members4eand4f. Not shown but implied in this figure are the opposing legs and linking members, identical in structure and position.

FIG. 8depicts an exploded front view of the one of the attachment members of the frame, showing the preferred angle support member above the attachment member.