Abstract:
The present invention relates to a camper that is hauled by a vehicle. The camper is collapsible into a compact easy traveling position that is connected to a hitch receiver on the vehicle. The camper in the collapsed travel position fastened to a vehicle hitch does not have any wheels making contact with the roadway or ground. The camper in its collapsed position has an equal or higher ground clearance as the ground clearance of the vehicle it is attached to so as not to encumber off-road or roadway travel. The camper of the present invention is not mounted on a trailer and has handles for positioning and rolling the camper about.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 15/052,035, filed Feb. 24, 2016, similarly entitled “Mini-Camper Attachable to Vehicle Hitch Receiver”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a camper that is hauled by a vehicle. The camper is collapsible into a compact easy traveling position that is connected to a hitch receiver on the vehicle. The camper in the collapsed travel position and fastened to a vehicle hitch does not have any wheels making contact with the roadway. The camper in its collapsed position has an equal or higher ground clearance as the ground clearance of the vehicle it is attached to so as not to encumber off-road or roadway travel. The small camper of the present invention is not mounted on a trailer and does not require a trailer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There is a preference for some consumers in the camping industry toward smaller and lighter towed camping trailers, and smaller and lighter car campers. A market exists for one and two person campers that are convenient for short overnight stays but can also be used in combination with other traditional camping equipment shelters such as camping gazebos and camping canopies as may be desired for additional living room during longer period overnight stays. 
         [0004]    In the industry today there are fixed camper trailers, see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,643 (Mace) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,849 (Gerbracht). There are collapsible camper trailer types, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,414 (Platt). And there are also pop-up tent trailer types, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,596 (Krutzikowsky) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,482 (Tomek). 
         [0005]    The majority of the conventional camper trailers, whether designed to be a fixed or collapsible structure, are heavy and large and can be difficult and time consuming to set-up and take-down on a camping trip. This defeats the real purpose of the easiness and readiness that consumers desire in a camper for a spur-of-moment decision to take a short overnight vacation, such as a weekend vacation. 
         [0006]    Such large and heavy conventional campers make transportation less safe. Often the suspension, frame, brakes and other original structure on a vehicle must be made stronger or otherwise changed to accommodate a heavy trailer. 
         [0007]    Hauling a trailer can be unwieldy and a challenge for even an experienced driver when maneuvering to park. Also, a trailer is typically prone to sway and causes vehicle handling problems. 
         [0008]    Conventional trailers require a consumer to have plenty of additional space for storage whenever such trailers are not in use. In addition, all states have laws that require trailers to be registered and licensed. A few states require some camping trailers to be inspected. 
         [0009]    Conventional pop-up tent trailer campers and some collapsible camper trailers are more aerodynamic and fuel efficient than a fixed camper trailer. However, the time requirement and difficulty in assembling and disassembling large trailer pop-up tents and camper trailers is undesirable for the consumer. This is a consideration whenever a person makes an attempt to place the pop-up tent trailer or collapsible camper trailers in use under unfavorable conditions, such as rain, snow, wind, and darkness. Also, pop-up tents and some pop-up camper trailers in part are made of canvas and do not fare well in windy conditions or maintain heat inside very well. 
         [0010]    In consideration of the above, it is a primary object to provide an erectable sleeping compartment for a vehicle which overcomes or substantially alleviates the shortcomings and problems of the prior art. 
         [0011]    There is a need in the art for a camper which is safe and not cumbersome during transportation. A camper that is quick and easy to set-up and take-down upon arrival and departure from campsites is needed. There is a desire for a camper that is relatively small in size and does not require additional hardware to strengthen or modify a vehicle. A compact camper is desired that does not require excessive storage when not in use and that is more aerodynamic during roadway transportation for improving fuel economy and does not substantially obstruct a driver&#39;s rear view vision. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle attached camper includes a rigid rectangular floor, vertical base walls fixed to the floor and an upper collapsible/expandable portion. The camper walls and roof are not constructed of canvas but are constructed of a rigid material. The camper when erected into its camping position creates an enclosure of a size and shape suitable for sleeping at least one adult. The collapsible/expandable portion includes two pivotally mounted half shells on the opposing distant ends of the rectangular floor. Each half shell includes a sidewall and an angled roof portion. The two half shells are pivotally attached to the central floor and can be quickly erected into a sleeping position from a compact collapsed travel position. The camper half shells together form a truncated triangular arch roof and two vertical sidewalk. A base wall extends vertically upward from the rear edge of the floor. A front entrance is located on the side opposite of the rear wall. The entrance is defined in part by two symmetric front base walls extending vertically upward from the floor. The rear gable wall and front wall panels are hinged onto their respective base walls and can be easily folded into a short collapsed travel/storage position. 
         [0013]    It is not necessary to remove the camper from the hitch during a camping outing it may be erected into its sleeping position while remaining on the vehicle hitch. The camper has pivotally attached adjustable ground support legs located on the camper for assisting in stabilizing the camper while erected into its sleeping position on the hitch. 
         [0014]    Likewise, the present camper can be easily collapsed from its erected position into its low profile compact position while remaining on the hitch. 
         [0015]    Another second preferred embodiment comprises a collapsible/expandable rigid camper as described with respect to the first preferred embodiment which additionally includes wheels positioned near one end of a central floor of the camper. Whereby said camper can be manually rolled to campsites or other locations in a less cumbersome manner after being taken off the vehicle hitch. The camper has four leg supports that are adjustable in height so as to enable a person to set-up the camper in a level sleeping position away from the vehicle. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible camper constructed of only rigid materials including rigid walls and a rigid roof that can be easily collapsed into a compact low profile for road traveling or placing it into storage. The camper in one preferred embodiment is made from a rigid strong composite material yet the material is light weight enough so as to permit a single individual to lift/lower the collapsed camper on or off a hitch attachment. Such construction using composite materials in comparison to canvas camping shelters/tents provides better security from at least small animals when camping outdoors. 
         [0017]    It is an important object of the invention to provide an erectable and collapsible sleeping compartment which is stored independent of a vehicles storage or other space. The camper is quickly and easily attached behind a vehicle by using a bar attached to the vehicle hitch receiver. After driving the vehicle attached camper to a camping location and parking, a person can erect the camper into a usable sleeping position while the camper is still supported on the bar and attached to the vehicle. 
         [0018]    Another object of this invention is to provide a camper which when collapsed is substantially reduced in height as compared to its erected height. And the camper does not illegally obstruct the rear lights of a vehicle, including but not limited to tail lights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights and braking lights. Alternatively, if it is impractical or undesirable to raise or lower the camper as needed for legally visible rear lights on a particular vehicle, it is contemplated that in a preferred embodiment that the rear lights of a vehicle, including but not limited to tail lights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights and braking lights could be integrated into the design of the small camper. For instance, lights could be positioned on the collapsed camper side facing traffic behind the pick-up truck, see  FIG. 2 , as it moves on down the highway. Such integrated camper lights can be connected to the vehicle electrical control system using a well-known adaptor as are commonly employed on trailers towed behind small private vehicles. 
         [0019]    Another object of this invention is to provide a neat appearing small camper which is not greatly affected by the outdoors and is substantially resistant to wind and rain. In a preferred embodiment all the camper base walls and the collapsible/expandable structures are made of a composite rigid insulative material. The composite material is also preferably waterproof. 
         [0020]    It is contemplated that during very substantial wind the camper is preferably hitched to a vehicle so as to prevent it from being toppled over. 
         [0021]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible camper having a high degree of weather tightness against both wind and rain when it is erected. 
         [0022]    At least one roof portion on a half shell has a seal on an extremity near the camper&#39;s central axis so as to form a weather tight abutment with the other half shell roof portion when in the erected position. The front and rear edges of the erected triangular arch roof are provided with flanges or edge borders so as to form a weather tight abutment surface with the cooperating rear gable wall and front wall panels. A first half shell&#39;s outer sidewall and integral roof portion have a slightly larger width dimension than the opposing second half shells sidewall and integral roof portion. This width dimension is sufficiently large enough so that said first half shell envelopes said second half shell when the camper is in the collapsed position. It should also be appreciated from the drawings, in particular  FIG. 2 , that the width dimensions of both the first half shell and second half shell are greater than the width of the rectangular floor so as to enable the half shells to pivot from the erected position into the collapsed position without being impeded by interference with either the central floor or base walls. 
         [0023]    The present invention relates to a vehicle and small camper coupled together in a more convenient method vet safer method. 
         [0024]    The invention is described as a small camper suitable for attachment to a hitch receiver on a vehicle so as not to inhibit the vehicles original ground clearance. The small collapsed camper is attached to a bar and held in a horizontal transport position above the road surface and does not substantially obstruct a driver&#39;s rear view vision. 
         [0025]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follow, when read in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is rear view of a vehicle equipped with a preferred collapsible/expandable camper, in accordance with the present invention, shown in its erected sleeping position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is rear view of a vehicle equipped with a preferred collapsible/expandable camper, in accordance with the present invention, shown in its collapsed travel position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the present camper invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation view of the present camper invention and its vehicle attaching apparatus in exploded form illustrating how it can be secured to a vehicle; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second wheeled embodiment of the invention in its erected sleeping position unhitched from a transport vehicle and independently supported by ground legs. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is an perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in its collapsed position ready for attachment to a carrier frame coupled to a vehicle hitch receiver; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a partially exploded view of the camper of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the carrier frame for the third embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is rear view of a vehicle equipped with the preferred third embodiment of collapsible/expandable camper, in accordance with the present invention, shown in its erected sleeping position 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The invention is described as a small camper suitable for attachment to a hitch receiver on a vehicle. A characteristic of the present invention is that it employs a support bar that is inserted in the hitch receiver, the bar extends rearward of the hitch receiver, the small camper has a receiver means underneath the camper floor for straddling or surrounding the support bar. The small camper is attached to the bar and held in a horizontal transport position having substantial ground clearance above the road surface. 
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle attached camper includes a rigid rectangular floor supporting a collapsible/expandable portion. The camper walls and roof are not constructed of canvas but are constructed of a rigid material. The camper when erected into its sleeping position creates an enclosure of a size and shape suitable for sleeping at least one adult. The collapsible/expandable portion includes two pivotally mounted half shells located near the opposite ends of the central rectangular floor. Each half shell includes a sidewall and an angled roof portion. The two half shells are pivotally attached to the floor and can be quickly erected into a sleeping position from a collapsed travel position. The erected camper half shells together form a triangular arch roof and two vertical sidewalls. A base wall extends vertically upward from the rear edge of the floor. A front entrance is located on the opposite side of the rear wall. The entrance is defined in part by two symmetric front base walls extending vertical upward from the floor. The rear gable wall and front wall panels are hingedly interconnected with their respective base wall sections and arranged to be folded into a short collapsed position. Referring to  FIG. 1 , reference number  10  is a vehicle, a pick-up truck. The present invention camper is fastened to the vehicle. Numeral  20  designates the camper of the present invention in its erected sleeping position. Camper  20  includes a rigid rectangular floor  22  for supporting a collapsible/expandable portion. The collapsible/expandable portion includes two pivotally mounted half shells  24 ,  26 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 , attached at opposite far ends of the rectangular floor  22 . Each half shell  24 ,  26  includes a sidewall  23 ,  25  and an angled roof portion  27 ,  28 . The two half shells  24 ,  26  can be pivoted between a sleeping position as shown in  FIG. 1  and a compact collapsed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The sidewall  23  and roof  28  of the half shell  24  are slightly wider than the width of the sidewall  25  and roof  27  of half shell  26 , so that half shell  24  may substantially envelope half shell  26  when the camper is in the compact collapsed position. 
         [0037]    From the collapsed position the two half shells  24 ,  26  can be quickly erected into a sleeping position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , by pivoting the two half shells outward from the central vertical axis of the camper. To facilitate the pivoting of the half shells as aforesaid, any satisfactory handle means may be secured to the sidewalls  23 ,  28  for assisting in lowering and raising the half shells between their sleeping and travel positions. In the sleeping position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the camper half shells together form a substantially triangular arch roof, two vertical sidewalls  23 ,  25 , and bottom surfaces  37 ,  38 . The bottom surfaces  37 ,  38  in the erected sleeping position cooperate with the central floor  22  to form a substantially even horizontal surface from one sidewall  23  to the other sidewall  25 . The half shells further comprise of rear wall  33 ,  34  sections and front wall sections  31 ,  32 . 
         [0038]    The camper half shells are positioned at opposite ends of the floor and when the camper is in the sleeping position both half shells roof portions extend to near the central vertical axis of the camper. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  the far end roof portion of half shell  24  extends across the central vertical axis so as to slightly overlap the roof portion of half shell  26 . Conventional abutment surfaces are employed to properly locate and position the two half-shells  27 ,  28  in the erected position. A roof top portion  29  of the triangular arch roof forms an uppermost flat horizontal surface. 
         [0039]    Suitable connection means such as hooks, sliding bolts, latches or other well-known means in the art may be employed at the uppermost roof top to fix the two half shells  24 ,  26 , together when in the sleeping position. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,832 (Guthoerl) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,912 (Pacca) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Similarly, other well-known connection means maybe employed to fix the two half shells  24 ,  26  together when the camper is in the compact collapsed position of  FIG. 2  so that the camper does not become unfolded as it travels down the roadway. 
         [0040]    Roof sections  27 ,  28  have weatherstrips  35  on both their forward and rearward border edges. The upper ends of front wall panels  52 ,  53  and upper end of rear gable wall  51  substantially abut against weatherstrips  35  when the camper is in its sleeping position. The inside surfaces of the weatherstrips  35  may include resilient seals to help maintain a more comfortable environment inside the camper. In the collapsed position half shell  24 , is arranged on top of half shell  26 , the weatherstrips  35  assist in aligning and maintaining shells  24 ,  26  together. 
         [0041]    All joints and/or abutment surfaces between half shells and wall portions, or wall portions with other wall portions and/or weatherstrips may be provided with suitable seals means well-known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, an inner flange or groove may be provided adjacent the outer extremity of top portion  29  for cooperation with a liquid tight resilient seal near the extremity of roof section  27 . In a preferred embodiment a rainproof camper may be achieved by adopting thin sealing strips of foam rubber or foamed plastic material cemented along appropriate edges or surfaces about the entire camper. 
         [0042]    Base walls  41 ,  42 ,  43  extend vertically upward from floor  22 . A front entrance (not numbered) is centrally located on the opposite side of the rear base wall  41 . The entrance is partially defined by two symmetric front base walls  42 ,  43  extending vertically upward from the floor  22 . 
         [0043]    A rear gable wall  51  is pivotally connected to the upper extremity of the rear base wall  41  by hinge means (not numbered), and front wall panels  52 ,  53  are pivotally connected to the upper extremity the front base walls  42 ,  43  respectively. The gable wall portion  51  and two front wall panels  52 ,  53  can be manually folded inward into a short collapsed position. 
         [0044]    The rear gable wall may not have windows or may have windows numbered) as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the window may be formed from a transparent plastic material. The front entrance may be provided with a swinging gate (not shown) between the front base wall sections  42 ,  43  for limiting access into the camper. 
         [0045]    Once the aforesaid half shells are rotated and fixed into the sleeping position, the folded over rear gable wall  51  can be simply erected by pivoting it about its hinges into a vertical position. Next the front panels  52 ,  53  can be manually rotated up into their vertical positions. After each of the structure parts  24 ,  26 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53  is rotated into its sleeping position they may be provided with manual connecting means to secure these structure parts of the camper in place. 
         [0046]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the camper has support legs  44  for supporting for the camper on the ground. The support legs are pivotally connected to the underside of the floor. Preferably there are four adjustable support legs attached near the four corners of the central rigid floor to provide for better stability of the camper. Each support leg has an upper receiving member which in a preferred embodiment may be made from two-inch square rectangular steel tubing having two juxtaposed drilled through holes along its entire length, the support legs have lower telescoping members sized to be telescopically received in their respective upper members. The lower members of the supporting legs likewise have a series of vertically disposed drilled through holes along their entire length. Each leg has a height adjustment pin that is insertable into cooperating aligned holes of the upper and lower member. Whereby the level of the foot  45  on a leg can be raised or lowered to conform to ground level. Each support leg  44  is pivotally attached to the underside of the floor  22  so that they may be rotated from a vertical support position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a horizontal travel position as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 4  a floor receiver means  54  attached to the underside of the floor is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4  the floor receiver means is an open saddle  54  that is adapted to straddle bar  55 . The floor receiver means in the preferred embodiment bisects the floor extending straight across the width of the floor from a forward side edge, adjacent the vehicle, to the opposite rear side edge. However, it should be appreciated that the floor receiver means may not necessarily extend across the entire width of the camper floor. The bar  55  has two sets of juxtaposed drilled through holes  58 , one set adjacent each end of the coupler bar  55 . A hitch receiver  56  is fixed onto the undercarriage of the vehicle in the present invention. The bar  55  is inserted into the hitch receiver  56  and the camper is straddled over the coupler bar  55 . The coupler bar is fastened to the hitch receiver at one end by an insertion pin that is passed through aligned openings  58  and  59  and the camper is fastened onto the bar at its other end by a pin inserted through aligned holes  57  and  58 . Whereby the camper is now securely coupled onto the vehicle so that a person may embark on a camping trip. 
         [0048]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the all the rear lights on the pickup truck are legally visible. It is contemplated that in the alternative that well-known adaptor means, including but not limited to size, shape and/or raise/drop adaptors may be first connected to the hitch receiver and the coupler bar  55  is then coupled to the adaptor means. A raise/drop adaptor may be selected and employed so that the collapsed camper does not illegally obstruct the rear lights of a vehicle, including but not limited to tail lights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights and braking lights. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,713 (Bruhn) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other well-known methods for raising or lowering the vehicle hitching position as needed may also be employed, see both U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,656 (Davy) and U.S. Pat No. 5,950,890 (Darby) which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. However, a hitch “drop” adaptor may not be desirable as it would unduly impede on ground clearance or the vehicle aerodynamics during travel. Alternatively, if it is impractical or undesirable to raise or lower the camper as needed for legally visible rear lights, it is contemplated that in a preferred embodiment that the rear lights of a vehicle, including but not limited to tail lights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights and braking lights could be integrated into the design of the small camper. For instance, lights could be positioned on the collapsed camper side facing traffic behind the pick-up truck, see  FIG. 2 , as it moves on down the highway. Such integrated camper lights can be connected to the vehicle electrical control system using a well-known adaptor as are commonly employed on trailers towed behind small private vehicles. 
         [0049]    It is contemplated that the floor receiver means may alternatively be a hollow structural section instead of an open saddle as well-known in the art, see U.S. Pat. No. 8,505,932 (Piccirillo) Which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0050]    The coupler support bar  55  holds the camper in a horizontal plane so that it will be substantially parallel to the road surface during travel. The floor  22  is fixed in this horizontal plane above the hitch receiver so as to provide for adequate ground clearance during travel. The support legs  44  in their retracted travel position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , are located adjacent the underside of the floor  22 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , with the camper in the travel position, the foot  45  of each support leg is located above the bottom edges of the saddle means  54 . The bottom edges of the saddle  54  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  do not extend beyond the bottom surface of the support bar  55  or below the hitch receiver  56 . The entire camper is located completely above the bottom of the hitch receiver. Consequently, the ground clearance of the attached camper does not compromise the original ground clearance of the vehicle. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  discloses a second preferred embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  mostly discloses common elements with the first embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1-4 . The  FIG. 5  embodiment employs the same reference numbers for identifying those common elements. Upon inspection of  FIG. 5  it should be appreciated that the second camper embodiment is identical to the first embodiment but for a pair of rotating wheels  61  fixed at one end of the floor  22  (only one is shown in  FIG. 5 , the other wheel is hidden on the opposite side of camper). 
         [0052]    The camper in this second embodiment once in its fully collapsed position may be removed from the coupler bar after removing a conventional insertion pin. The camper may be next set on the ground where an operator may then grasp the opposite end of the camper and lift it onto the wheels  61  and maneuver the camper to a desired location. A person can either pull the fully collapsed camper or roll it along while it rests on wheels  61  much like a wheel barrow or dolly is transported. Wheel means  44  are mounted at one of said closed ends for rolling movement of the container on the ground, the wheels being rotatable on axle means disposed near one end of the base. The wheel means includes a pair of oppositely disposed wheels disposed exteriorly of the base and end-walls without being recessed therein 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  discloses a third preferred embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 6  discloses common elements with the first two embodiments disclosed in  FIGS. 1-5 . The third embodiment,  FIGS. 6-7 , employs the same reference numbers for identifying those common elements. Upon inspection of the partially exploded view of the third embodiment in  FIG. 7 , it should be appreciated that the third camper embodiment is similar to the second embodiment but for an additional light weight metal support frame  70  that is more permanently fixed to the floor  22  underside of the camper. The support legs  44  in the third embodiment are preferably pivotably connected to the support frame  70 . 
         [0054]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , a readily separable carrier frame is connected to a hitch receiver on a vehicle. The camper  20  is next secured to the carrier frame  80  by well-known quick connect pins (not shown). The carrier frame has a plurality of pin receiving holes  84  on each of the rails  86  and the camper base walls  41 ,  42 ,  43  have a plurality of cooperating pin receiving holes  83  adjacent the camper floor. The camper is first tilted up onto the carrier frame into a horizontal position cradled between the edges of the L-shaped rails  86  between the rails. Once in the horizontal position between the rails  86  the camper can be slid along the rails until the holes  84  in the rails  86  are aligned with the holes in the base walls and a quick connect pin is then inserted through each of the aligned holes coupling the camper  20  to the carrier frame  80 . It should be appreciated that other well-known quick fastening means can be employed for coupling the camper onto the carrier frame  80 . For instance preferably locking clasps may be used with respect to securing the camper to the carrier frame. 
         [0055]    The carrier frame has a central hitch adaptor square tube  82 , having permanently fixed thereto are two parallel L-shaped angle irons carrier support rails  86 . The carrier rails  86  are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and carrier adaptor. The inside corner of the two L-shaped rails  86  both face inward to partially cradle the camper between the rails. The carrier support rails  86  are horizontally welded or otherwise secured onto the top surface of the adaptor square tube  82 . Each L-shaped rail is oriented so that one of the two perpendicular surfaces is in the vertical plane and the other second surface lies in the horizontal plane. The parallel rails are spaced apart so that the camper closely fits between the rails  86 . 
         [0056]    The camper has a support frame  70  that is welded or otherwise secured the bottom of camper floor  22 . Preferably a lightweight metal including steel or aluminum of appropriate gauge having the required strength may be used to construct the support frame  70 . The camper support frame  70  is positioned to be received between the inside corners of the two L-shaped rails. Once the camper is tilted onto the carrier frame rails in a horizontal position, the camper may be manually slid along the carrier frame fully supported. Fastener means can secure the camper to the carrier frame preventing movement during vehicle travel. 
         [0057]    Two support braces  88  provide for additional strength and assist in holding the two rails  84  firmly in position. The support braces  88  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8  may be L-shaped angle irons or other conventional type metal bar that would provide sufficient strength to the carrier frame  80 . The carrier frame adaptor  82  allows for easy connection and disconnection of the camper to a conventional hitch receiver found on a vehicle. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 7  the support frame  70  for the camper is made from light-weight metal tubing preferably having a square or rectangular cross-section. The support frame  70  comprises two lengthwise support beams  72  and multiple floor cross-beams, outer cross beams  74   a  and inner cross beams  74   b,  for supporting the underside of the camper floor  22 . The parallel support beams  72  are set apart a distance so that the distance between their outer surfaces is nearly equivalent to the distance between the inner corners of the receiving parallel rails  86  providing a snug fit between the camper and carrier frame  80 . 
         [0059]    The support frame  70  further includes two parallel handle cross-beams  76  at opposite ends of the support frame  70 . These handle cross-beams have two functions, the first function is to provide support to the bottom surfaces  37 ,  38  of the half shells when the camper is in its sleeping position and their second function is to provide a convenient hand grip for a person when moving the camper while it is in its collapsed position as in  FIG. 6 . The camper may be moved by a single person. In  FIG. 6  the camper is shown in a tilted upright position in preparation for placing it onto the carrier frame  80 . The camper has wheel means including a pair of wheels  61  disposed exteriorly near one end of the camper. The handle cross beam  76  provides a means for grasping the camper so a person can move the camper about on its two wheels much like a dolly. Alternatively, whenever the camper is in its collapsed position two persons can lift and carry the camper using the handle cross-beams  76  at opposite ends of the camper. 
         [0060]    The wheels  61  are mounted on independent axles  63  that are connected to the support frame  70 . The wheel axles are mounted near a handle cross-beam. The axles are mounted near an outward end of the support beams  72  so whenever the collapsed camper is tilted upward for manual transportation, as in  FIG. 6 , the handle cross beam  76  adjacent the wheels does not contact the ground. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the wheel axles are not coaxial with the handle cross-beam  76  nor mounted at the end of the support beams  72 . They are mounted inward of the handle cross-beam so as to limit the overall length of the camper. It is desirable to limit the overall length of the camper to be at the most equal to the width of a vehicle. Such a camper that is shorter and more compact is more aerodynamic during roadway transportation. Further an overhanging lengthy camper would create added difficulty in avoiding collisions during transportation of the camper on a vehicle. 
         [0061]    The longitudinal length of the first embodiment camper in its sleeping position, see  FIG. 1  is greater than the length of the camper is in its collapsed travel position, see  FIG. 2 . In the  FIG. 2  collapsed travel position the longitudinal length of the collapsed camper is the distance between the half shell corners  75 , this length does not extend beyond the width of the vehicle. Similarly, the longitudinal length of the third embodiment&#39;s sleeping position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , is longer than the length of the third embodiment camper in its collapsed travel position and it extends beyond the width of the vehicle. 
         [0062]    As briefly indicated above the handle cross beams  76  support the bottom surfaces  37 ,  38  of the half shells when the camper is deployed into its sleeping position. The longitudinal length of the support frame is the distance from one handle cross beam  76  to the handle cross beam  76  at the opposite end of the support frame. The two outer parallel cross beams  74   a  of the support frame are longitudinally located so as to be directly under the two floor ends  39 . Both handle cross beams  76  are located substantially outward from the outer cross beams  74   a  so as to permit a person to grasp the collapsed camper and manually roll it or carry it with another person grasping the handle cross beam at the opposite end as described above. 
         [0063]    In this third embodiment the maximum longitudinal length of the support frame  70  is limited so as to be at least less than the longitudinal length of the camper in its sleeping position. The minimum longitudinal length of the support frame  70  is limited so as to permit two people to place their hands around the handle cross beams  76  at each end for lifting and carrying the camper. The longitudinal length of the support frame  70  may be shorter or longer within these minimum and maximum limits. 
         [0064]    The longitudinal length of the support frame  70  does not extend from one end of the camper to the other end when in its sleeping position as shown in  FIG. 9 . Further the support frame  70  has a length that is not more than the overall length of the camper in its collapsed  FIG. 2  travel position. The total longitudinal length of the support frame  70  plus any portion of the pair of wheels  61  that extends beyond the support frame is not greater than the longitudinal distance between the third embodiment half shell corners  75  when the camper is in its collapsed travel position. As discussed above the longitudinal length of the camper in its sleeping position, from corner  75  to corner  75  is not greater than the width of the vehicle for safety and better aerodynamic purposes during travel. 
         [0065]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the illustrated invention and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.