Side door car camper

A car tent camper has a flexible rod with a flexible rod upper tip and a flexible rod lower tip. The flexible rod upper tip is configured to engage a door window frame. The flexible rod lower tip is configured to engage a latch loop. An extension is formed as a planar plank. The extension is connected to a horizontal frame member at an extension base. The extension base has a horizontal frame member inside foot and an upright foot. The horizontal frame member inside foot is mounted opposite to the upright foot. A first anchor hook strap is connected to a first extension support, and the first extension support is mounted to the extension. A second anchor hook strap is connected to a second extension support, and the second extension support is mounted to the extension.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of car tent campers.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A variety of different car tents have been patented. For example, a Korean patent publication 10-2018-0121299 suggests to install a box shaped tent over an open window to allow a user to sleep with their feet extended out of the window. Japanese reference JP2010179903A to inventor Taketomi entitled On Vehicle Umbrella teaches a fan shaped tent over an open front door of an automobile. Japanese reference JP2015063815A by inventor Yoshinobu Maruo entitled Vehicle Door Tent provides a tent designed to rest on the ground and be connected to the side door of an automobile. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 1,803,237 entitled Portable Shelter Or Tent For Attachment To Automobiles issued Apr. 28, 1931 by inventor C. E. Crooke shows a tent frame that can be connected to the exterior surface of an automobile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A car tent camper has a flexible rod with a flexible rod upper tip and a flexible rod lower tip. The flexible rod upper tip is configured to engage a door window frame. The flexible rod lower tip is configured to engage a latch loop. An extension is formed as a planar plank. The extension is connected to a horizontal frame member at an extension base. The extension base has a horizontal frame member inside foot and an upright foot. The horizontal frame member inside foot is mounted opposite to the upright foot. A first anchor hook strap is connected to a first extension support, and the first extension support is mounted to the extension. A second anchor hook strap is connected to a second extension support, and the second extension support is mounted to the extension. The second extension support is mounted laterally from the first extension support. A right anchor hook is connected to the right anchor hook strap, and the right anchor hook is configured to engage the latch loop. A left anchor hook is connected to the left anchor hook strap. The left anchor hook is configured to engage a headrest post.

The first extension support can be a left extension support, and the second extension support can be a right extension support. The left extension support can be mounted to the left of the right extension support. The car tent camper optionally has the first anchor hook strap configured as a left anchor hook strap, and second anchor hook strap being a right anchor hook strap. The right anchor hook strap is preferably mounted to the right of the left anchor hook strap.

The first extension support also has a first connection ring, and the first anchor hook strap is connected to the first connection ring. The first connection ring is mounted to the extension. The second extension support further includes a second connection ring. The second anchor hook strap is connected to the second connection ring. The second connection ring is mounted to the extension. The flexible rod has a first rod section and a second rod section. The first rod section is connected to the second rod section at a rod connector sleeve. The rod connector sleeve provides a detachable connection.

The upright foot is connected to the horizontal frame member at an upright foot swivel joint. The car tent also has a tent cover which is formed as a sheet that can be made of fabric. The tent cover is configured to fit over the flexible rod and the extension and can be connected to the flexible rod and extension. The tent cover can be connected to the flexible rod by having a sleeve type connection. The tent cover includes a top magnet bar for connecting to a car body, and a car body magnet bar.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.20Flexible Rod21Flexible Rod Upper Tip22Flexible Rod Lower Tip23First Rod Section24Second Rod Section25Rod Connector Sleeve30Main Body31Latch Loop32Door Opening33Door34Door Pocket35Seat36Cabin Floor37Rear Window Frame38Rear Window Frame Indent Corner41Headrest42Headrest Post43Backrest50Extension51Extension Base52Right Extension Support53Left Extension Support54Horizontal Frame Member55Left Anchor Hook56Horizontal Frame Member Inside Foot57Right Anchor Hook58Upright Foot61Foot Tip Tapered Edge52Horizontal Frame Member Lower Edge63Horizontal Frame Member Inside Foot Tip64Upright Foot Swivel Joint65Left Anchor Hook Strap66Right Anchor Hook Strap67Left Connection Ring68Right Connection Ring69Insertion Surface70Tent Cover71Top Magnet Bar72Car Body Magnet Bar73Car Door Magnet Bar74Tent Cover Bottom Edge75Door Pocket76Supplemental Strap77Inside Support

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen inFIG. 1, a car tent camper is configured to be installed in a rear side door of an automobile such as a sedan. The tent is installed when the rear side door of the automobile is in an open position. A flexible rod20has a flexible rod upper tip21and a flexible rod lower tip22. The flexible rod also has a rod connector sleeve25. The rod connector sleeve25connects a first Rod section23to a second Rod section24. The rod sections can detach from the connector sleeve25and fold for storage. The flexible rod upper tip21can be lodged in a rear window frame indent corner38of a rear window frame37of a car door33. The car door33extends from the main body30. The main body30has a latch loop31which is typically a metal loop that receives the door latch, but in this case is repurposed for receiving the flexible rod lower tip22, which is configured to insert into the latch loop31. The flexible rod lower tip22can be a metal sheathing fit over a fiberglass rod. The flexible rod is preferably a fiberglass rod that has a pair of opposing ends that are cylindrical and capped with aluminum end caps. The aluminum end caps preferably include a rounded tapered tip.

The right anchor hook is also engaged to the latch loop31. The right anchor hook is connected to the hook strap66and the hook strap is connected to a right extension support52. As seen inFIG. 2, optionally, the hook strap can be connected to the right extension support52at a right connection ring68. Similarly, a left anchor hook55can connect to a headrest post42. The headrests post42is between the headrest41and the backrest43. The backrest43of the vehicle is padded and the headrest41of the vehicle is also padded, but the headrest post42is typically a solid stainless steel post that can receive a hook. The hook is preferably metal but coated with a soft grippy cover.

The left anchor hook55maintains the position of the left anchor hook strap65, which in turn supports the left connection ring67of the left extension support53. Left extension support53is connected to the extension50formed as a plank. The right connection ring exterior of the right extension support52similarly is connected to the right anchor hook strap66which is connected to the right anchor hook57. The right anchor hook57is first engaged to the latch loop31and then the length of the right anchor hook strap66can be adjusted in length. Similarly, the left anchor hook strap65can also be adjusted in length. The right anchor hook strap66can be a nylon strapping. The latch loop31is preferably bolted to the main body30by a pair of bolts.

The extension50has an extension base51at an inside portion of the extension50. The extension base51is connected to a horizontal frame member54. The horizontal frame member54has an upright foot58at a front end and a horizontal frame member inside foot56at a rear end. The horizontal frame member inside foot56fits between the rear seat cushion and the main body30of the vehicle. The upright foot58extends downwardly from the horizontal frame member54. The upright foot58rests on and is supported by the cabin floor36.

As seen inFIG. 3, the upright foot can be mounted with an upright foot swivel joint64that can be height adjustable for selecting a height of the upright foot. For example, the upright foot swivel joint or can be moved up or down so that the upright foot58can be mounted in multiple configurations relative to the horizontal frame member before. The multiple configurations can correspond with different heights and angles.

Additionally, the horizontal frame member54can be flexible in a side-to-side direction and not flexible in and up to down direction. The horizontal frame member54preferably is rigid in a vertical direction, but slightly flexible in a horizontal direction. The horizontal frame member has a rear end that is formed as a horizontal frame member inside foot56. The horizontal frame member inside foot56has a horizontal frame member lower edge62and an insertion surface69defined between the horizontal frame member lower edge62and an upper edge of the horizontal frame member. The foot tip tapered edge61can be blade shaped for engagement to secure the horizontal frame member relative to the vehicle. The foot tip tapered edge61preferably extends to a horizontal frame member inside foot tip63that is pointed for ease of insertion.

As seen inFIG. 4, the tent cover70fits over the door of a sedan and is held down with a top magnet bar71. The car body magnet bar72and the car door magnet bar73provide a secure connection to the left and right sides of the tent cover70. The tent cover bottom edge74can be a weighted flap. The upper portion of the cover can have a door pocket75for receiving a portion of the door of the car. As seen inFIG. 5, the car door magnet bar73can also be placed on the outside surface of the car door instead of on the edge of the car door as seen inFIG. 4. The tent cover can be connected to the flexible rod such as by providing a sleeve for the flexible rod on the tent cover, or by providing hooks on the tent cover for connecting to the flexible rod. Similarly, the tent cover can be connected to the extension such as by providing a flexible connector.

Alternatively as seen inFIG. 6, a supplemental strap76as seen inFIG. 1can replace the upright foot58. The supplemental strap76may also additionally stabilize and support an inside support77and can be used in conjunction with the folding foot. The inside support77can be formed as a plank that is connected to the horizontal frame member54. The inside support77is preferably parallel to the extension50, but it can also be formed at an angle to the extension50for example by being hinged to extension50so that it folds together with extension50. The supplemental strap76is configured to connect to a headrest post, such as a second headrest post that is not being connected to. The inside support77is preferably removably detachable.

Although the preferred embodiment is shown in a particular orientation being installed on the right rear door, the car tent camper can also be installed on the right front door, the left front door, or the left rear door. During use, the user provides a mattress or can lay on the rear seats while extending the feet on the extension. The tent cover can have a screen for allowing air exchange.