This invention relates to a collapsible roof-top camper comprised of a fixed base provided with a rigid front wall member pivotally secured thereto, said front wall having a second rigid member pivotally attached thereto to form a first roof portion, said roof portion and front wall member having flange elements secured to and extending laterally from the outer side edges thereof, a rigid back wall member pivotally secured to said base, said back wall having a second rigid member pivotally attached thereto to form a second roof portion, said roof portion and back wall member having flange elements secured to and extending laterally from the outer side edges thereof, said second roof portion being provided with its forward edge extending longitudinally therefrom to form a continuous flap under which the forward edge of the first roof portion is accommodated thereby forming a weather seal, a first and a second side wall pivotally secured to said base at opposite edges thereof, said side walls adapted to abut against the flange elements carried by the front and back wall members and their respective roof portions to form weather seals.

This invention relates to a collapsible roof-top camper, and more 
particularly relates to a collapsible roof-top camper which can be easily 
erected on the roof of a transporting vehicle and be collapsed to form a 
low profile, compact unit for roadway travel or garage storage. 
The worldwide energy crisis has changed the course of the automobile 
industry towards production of less fuel consuming engines, resulting in 
less powerful and consequently smaller automobiles. This trend is 
indicated by the increasing popularity of the compact and subcompact 
automobile models, thus inevitably changing the course of the recreational 
vehicle industry towards production of smaller and lighter towed camping 
trailers, and smaller and lighter car campers. 
The majority of the conventional car campers, whether designed to be a 
fixed or collapsible structure, are engineered to carry the heavy load 
required by the comfort and conveniences of a conventional house trailer 
or mobile home, with built-in appliances, stoves, refrigerator, and the 
like, thus defeating the real purpose of the easiness and readiness that 
characterizes the requirements for the spur-of-moment decision of a 
weekend vacation. The aforesaid conventional car campers, because of their 
fixed and heavy construction, require a relatively complex change in the 
original structure of a standard automobile to accommodate the bulkiness 
and the additional load. This cannot be easily resolved, however, without 
creating the added problem of moving the center of gravity of the vehicle 
to a dangerously unbalanced position. In addition, conventional car 
campers, because of their bulkiness and heavy construction, require a 
relatively large space for storage and extra precautions to maintain the 
balance of the vehicle while being loaded or unloaded. 
The present invention avoids these and other problems associated with 
conventional car campers by providing a rigid, habitable camper unit of 
light-weight construction, which when collapsed is capable of storage in a 
minimum amount of space, and when expanded, provides a high degree of 
weather tightness. 
The collapsible roof-top camper according to the present invention is 
comprised of a rectangular, open box-like body, having two side wall 
panels each provided with sliding windows, namely the inner side wall and 
the outer side wall. These walls are of the same width as the internal 
dimension of the longitudinal sides of said rectangular box-like body to 
which they are pivotally connected. Further, they are positioned opposite 
to each other and in different horizontal levels so as to permit the outer 
side wall to overlap the inner side wall and be parallel thereto. 
The camper body has an inner end wall pivotally connected by one extremity 
to one of the narrow sides of the box-like body and pivotally connected to 
a roof portion at the other extremity. The inner end wall is also provided 
with an access door. The end wall and roof portion both have edge flanges 
or borders so as to form a weather tight abutment surface for the side 
walls. An outer end wall is pivotally connected by one extremity to the 
opposite narrow side of the box-like body and pivotally connected by the 
other extremity to an outer roof portion. Both the end wall and roof 
portion are provided with flanges or edge borders so as to form a weather 
tight abutment surface for the side walls. Both the outer end wall and 
connected roof portion have slightly larger dimension than the inner end 
wall and its connected roof portion, sufficient to envelop said inner end 
wall and connected roof portion when the latter are in the collapsed 
condition. 
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible 
roof-top camper having an all rigid wall and roof panels that can be 
easily collapsed into a low profile for road travel and for storage in a 
minimum space. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible 
roof-top camper unit wherein the end wall panels, when unfolding to the 
upright position, are regulated by means of levers pivotally connected by 
one end to the opposite edges of each of the end wall panels, and the 
other end to a cylinder traveling within a slotted guiding tubes each 
attached to the opposite longitudinal walls of the box-like body. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible 
roof-top camper as hereinabove described whereby the roof portions are 
pivotally connected to their respective end wall panel thereof so that as 
the wall panels unfold to their upright position, the roof panels 
automatically elevate into their preset position. 
A further object of the present is to provide a collapsible roof-top camper 
with a high degree of weather tightness in either its collapsed or 
upraised conditions. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible 
roof-top camper which can be upraised and collapsed without the help of 
tools of any kind, and eliminating the need for separately assembling and 
disassembling each component part of the framework.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14 and 17, reference numeral 30 
designates generally the collapsible roof-top camper of the instant 
invention which is provided with a fixed body portion 31 having a floor 32 
and vertically extending side and end walls so as to form a shallow 
open-top box-like structure. Body portion 31, including the floor 32 of 
the camper 30, constitutes the main platform for detachably mounting said 
camper on the roof of any automobile or any similar vehicle. 
An outer end wall 33 is pivotally connected to the upper extremity of one 
of the end walls of body portion 31 by hinge means 34, and is pivotally 
connected to an outer roof portion 35 by hinge means 36 (as best seen in 
FIGS. 4 and 6). An inner end wall 37 is pivotally connected to a vertical 
end wall of body portion 31, but below the upper extremity thereof, 
opposite the first-mentioned end wall, by hinge means 37a (not visible) 
and is pivotally connected to an inner roof portion 38 by hinge means 39 
(not visible). Hinge means 37a and 39 are similar in structure and purpose 
to hinge means 34 and 36, respectively. The reason for vertically 
offsetting the hinge means 34 of end wall 33 and hinge means 37a of end 
walll 37 is to allow end walls (and concomitantly) their respective roof 
portions to overlap and lie in a substantially horizontal position when 
they are in a collapsed state. So that the height of the end walls are 
uniform when in the upright position, inner end wall 37 must, of 
necessity, have a greater height than outer end wall 33. 
An outer side wall 40 and an inner side wall 41 are pivotally connected to 
opposite vertical side walls of body portion 31 by hinge means 42 and 42a, 
respectively. It should be noted that the hinge means 42 of outer end wall 
40 is vertically offset with respect to hinge means 42a of inner side wall 
41 so that when the side walls 40 and 41 are in their collapsed state, 
they will overlap and lie in a substantially horizontal position. 
Obviously, the height of inner side wall 41 is greater than the height of 
outer side wall 40 so that the combined height of the vertical side wall 
of body portion 31 up to the juncture of hinge 42a and inner side wall 41 
is equal to that of vertical side wall of body portion 31 and outer side 
wall 40 secured thereto. 
At the lower extremity of each vertical side wall of body portion 31 and 
extending along said extremity, is a hollow tube members 43. Hollow tube 
members 43 are provided with a pair of slot means 44, each of which houses 
a cylinder 45. Connector rod 46 is pivotally connected to cylinder 45 by 
pin means 47. Pin means 47 are accommodated within cylinder extension 45a 
which pass through slot means 44 and are in slideable relationship 
therewith. (See FIG. 3). 
Outer end wall 33 is provided with laterally extending flanges 48 
projecting from each of the side edges thereof. Outer roof portion 35, 
which is pivotally secured to outer end wall 33, is also provided with 
laterally extending flanges 49 from each of the side edges thereof. 
Flanges 48 and 49 thus provide abutment surfaces against which the side 
walls of the camper are positioned so as to create tight weather-seal 
means when said side walls are in their up-right position. 
Each flange 49 of the outer roof portion 35 is also provided with a 
longitudinal slot 50. One end of connecting arm 51 is in slideable 
engagement with each slot 50. The opposite end of each arm 51 is pivotally 
secured to opposite flanges 48 of outer end wall 33. Likewise, the end of 
each connecting rod 46 which is opposite to the end pivotally secured to 
cylinder 45, is also pivotally attached to flange 48. 
The forward edge of outer roof portion 35 is bent downwardly so that an 
apex 52 is formed thereby providing a peak or ridgeline of the roof when 
the camper is in its fully raised position. Secured to the underside of 
the lead edge 35a of outer roof portion 35 are weather strip means 53. 
(See FIG. 9). Thus, when inner end wall 37 and inner roof portion 38 are 
completely extended into their fully raised position, lead edge 35a, and 
concomitantly weather strip means 53, are tightly compressed against the 
outer surface of the forward edge of inner roof portion 38, thereby 
forming a tight weather-seal of the camper roof when said camper is fully 
erected. 
The hinged end of outer roof portion 35 is provided with an overhang 35b. 
Secured to the underside of overhang 35b and extending along the edge of 
said overhang, is weather stripping means 53a. (See FIG. 6). When the 
camper is in its folded position, overhang 35b is tightly compressed 
against the outer end wall 33 thereby providing a tight weather-seal. (See 
FIGS. 1 and 4). It should be noted that overhang 35b also forms an eaves 
when roof portion 35 is fully erected so as to direct rain or other 
moisture away from the hinge juncture of the end wall and roof portion, 
thus protecting the hinge joint from weather and the elements. 
From each edge thereof, inner end wall 37 is also provided with laterally 
extending flange means 54. Further, inner roof portion 38 is provided with 
laterally extending flange means 55 at each side edge thereof. Flange 
means 54 carried by inner end wall 37 and flange means 55 carried by inner 
roof portion 38 provided the same function as do flanges 48 of outer end 
wall 33 and flanges 49 of outer roof portion 35 when side walls 40 and 41 
are in their up-right position. 
Furthermore, each flange means 55 carried by inner roof portion 38 is also 
provided with longitudinal slots 50 to which a connecting arm 51 is 
slideably attached. Pivotally secured to each flange means 54 of inner end 
wall 37 is the opposite end of each connecting arm 51 and one end of each 
connecting rod 46. 
Thus, on each side of the camper a connecting rod 46 is pivotally secured 
to flange 48 of outer end wall 33 and flange 54 of inner end wall 37, 
while their opposite ends are pivotally connected to separate cylinders 45 
housed in slideable engagement within hollow tube members 43. Likewise, on 
each side of the camper a connecting arm 51 is pivotally secured to flange 
48 of outer end wall 33 and flange 54 of inner end wall 37, while their 
opposite ends are slideably connected to groove 50 in flange 49 and flange 
55, respectively. 
Inner roof portion 38 is provided at its hinged end with an overhang 38a. 
Overhang 38a is similar in structure and function to overhang 35b carried 
by outer roof portion 35. 
Side walls 40 and 41 are each provided with a longitudinally extending 
flange 56 situated adjacent their respective pivot connections to body 
portion 31. The flange protrudes from each side wall at an angle with 
respect thereto so as to form a moisture deflecting means thereby 
weather-proofing said hinge joints. (See FIG. 13). 
Secured to body portion 31 of the camper are a plurality of U-hooks 57 
which are used to lift the camper (when collapsed) up to a garage ceiling 
or other similar space by attaching lines thereto and hoisting the 
collapsed camper upwards thereby resulting in a saving of storage space. 
The collapsible roof-top camper is normally placed upon the roof of the 
transporting vehicle when the camper is in its collapsed position (See 
FIG. 15). The camper can be secured to the transporting vehicle by any 
conventional means such as a combination of a curved cross-member bracket 
58 to which the camper is secured by any suitable fastening means, i.e., 
bolts, and a turnbuckle means 59 which is secured at one end to the 
underside of the vehicle drip channel and the other end by a bolt or the 
like carried by the camper. (See FIG. 16). If desired a protective rubber 
block 60 shaped to fit the contour of the roof 61 of the vehicle may be 
inserted between said roof 61 and bracket 58 to avoid damage to the roof. 
When it is desired to erect the collapsible roof-top camper of the 
invention, (as in FIG. 17), it is necessary to remove two oppositely 
situated locking pins 62 which lock the camper in its collapsed condition 
when said pins are introduced through holes 63 on flanges 49 of outer roof 
portion 35, aligned with holes 64 on flanges 54 of inner end wall 37 and 
aligned with holes 65 on body portion 31. 
By pivoting outer wall 33 outwardly about hinge means 34, the 
interengagement of the outer roof portion 35 and outer wall 33 by 
connecting arms 51, concurrently raises roof portion 35. Likewise, by 
thereafter pivoting inner end wall 37 outwardly about hinge means 37a, 
inner roof portion 38 is simultaneously raised due to the interengagement 
thereof with inner end wall 37 by connecting arms 51. That is, when 
connecting arms 51 slide to the foremost end of slots 50 carried by 
flanges 49 and 55 of the outer roof portion 35 and inner roof portion 38, 
respectively, the aforesaid roof portions must, of necessity, be raised 
into position as their respective outer walls are erected to a full 
vertical position. The forward edge of inner roof portion 38 is seated in 
tight compression against weather-strip means 53 carried by the underside 
of lead edge 35a of outer roof portion 35 so as to form a weather seal. 
It should be noted that inner end wall 37 and inner roof portion 38 are 
slightly narrower than outer end wall 33 and outer roof portion 35 so that 
the outer members envelope the inner members when the camper is in the 
collapsed position. Likewise, it should be noted that inner end wall 37 
and inner roof portion 38 have slightly larger dimension than the narrow 
sides of the box-like body 31, sufficient to envelop as to form a lid for 
said box-like body when the latter is in the collapsed condition. 
Outer side wall 40 is next pivotted about hinge means 42 into an erect 
position so that the weather stripping 66 carried by its border edges are 
seated against the inner sides of flanges 54 and 48 of inner end wall 37 
and outer end wall 33, respectively, and flanges 55 and 49 of inner roof 
portion 38 and outer roof portion 35, respectively. To facilitate the 
raising of outer side wall 40 as aforesaid, any satisfactory means may be 
secured to said side wall such as a conventional handle 67. 
After erecting outer side wall 40 to its upright position, inner side wall 
41 is then pivotted outwardly about hinge means 42a so that the weather 
stripping 68 carried by its border edges are seated against the inner 
sides of flanges 54 and 48 of inner end wall 37 and outer end wall 33, 
respectively, and flanges 55 and 49 of inner roof portion 38 and outer 
roof portion 35, respectively. Again, to facilitate the raising of inner 
wall 41, conventional handle 69 is secured to the outer surface of inner 
wall 41. 
Once the side walls and end walls (and concomitantly their respective roof 
portions) are fully erected, locking pins 62 are then inserted into holes 
70 contained in hollow tube members 43 so as to pass therethrough, and 
engage holes 45b provided in cylinders 45. Likewise, locking pins 71 are 
inserted into holes 72 in hollow tube members 43 passing therethrough to 
engage holes 45b provided in the second pair of cylinders 45. (See FIG. 
7). Thus, cylinders 45 are precluded from lineal movement thereby 
maintaining the outer and inner end walls erect. 
In addition, locking pins 73 are inserted through apertures in flanges 48 
and 54 of the outer and inner end wall, respectively, and into 
accommodating apertures in the outer and inner side walls. (See FIG. 12). 
Likewise, locking pins 73 are also inserted through apertures in flanges 
49 and 55 of the outer and inner roofs 35 and 38, respectively, and into 
accommodating apertures in the upper portion of outer and inner side 
walls. Accordingly, the outer and inner side walls are secured to the end 
walls and roof portions, which in turn are maintained erect by locking 
cylinders 45 in place, as aforesaid, thereby providing a unitary, rigid 
structure. 
If desired, inner roof portion 38 and outer roof portion 35 may be extended 
substantially in vertical alignment (as in FIG. 14) and provide an open 
roof for sunbathing during the day or sleeping under the open sky at 
night. The roof portions are held in their vertical positions by rigid 
separator rods 74 which interengages said roof portions. 
It should be noted that although this embodiment is illustrated to show a 
door means 75 is inner end wall 37 and window means 76 in the outer and 
inner walls, said door means and window means can be located in either the 
end walls or side walls without deviating from the scope of the invention 
herein. 
While one embodiment of the invention has been described, it is understood 
that the particular embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is for 
illustrative purposes only and that various changes may be made therein 
without departing from the principles of the invention.