Abstract:
A folding camper ( 15 ) is provided for a pickup truck ( 20 ). A pair of side wings ( 22 ) are pivotally attached to a base assembly ( 10 ) that rests on the floor of the pickup truck bed. A roof ( 28 ) is attached to a roof lifting mechanism ( 30 ). Enclosures ( 32 ), ( 38 ), and ( 42 ) enclose the area between base assembly ( 10 ) and roof ( 28 ) when expanded. Doors ( 34 ) and ( 36 ) provide access to the interior. Slanted jacks ( 47 ) and ( 48 ) lift the camper off the pickup truck bed. Straps ( 62 ) and braces ( 64 ) and ( 66 ) stabilize the camper ( 15 ). Roof racks ( 46 ) are attached to roof ( 28 ) for long objects. When closed, side wings ( 22 ) are folded upward, and enclosures ( 32 ), ( 38 ), and ( 42 ) are folded inward. Roof ( 28 ) is lowered to rest on base assembly ( 10 ) and to overlap side wings ( 22 ). Lower door ( 36 ) is operable and the interior of camper ( 15 ) is available for transport or storage use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a folding camper that rests on the floor of a pickup truck bed and that can be used as a utility enclosure for storage and transport when closed and expands into a large enclosure for habitation that can be used on or off the pickup truck. 
     Folding campers have been in use for years. Typically a conventional camper designed for pickup trucks has a floor, front and rear walls, sidewalls and a roof forming a rigid rectangular structure. The main problem is that campers are wider and higher than the truck they rest upon. Consequently they obscure the rear view of the driver when in motion contributing to safety concerns; they are not aerodynamic and increase wind resistance and increase fuel consumption; they raise the center of gravity and provide a large sail area in high winds that serves to destabilize the vehicle; they will not fit within a typical residential garage; they may be subject to road and bridge restrictions; they are difficult to remove from the vehicle; and they are not intended for use off the vehicle. Various methods have been tried to improve the campers by installing some form of roof lowering mechanism to reduce the overall height of the vehicle when closed. These efforts have not addressed the other disadvantages listed. Examples of patents that are illustrative of this prior art follow. 
     “U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,536 to Muzyka in which the inventor uses a system of multiple folding side wings that fold in upon themselves. This device requires numerous external supports and jacks to support it. It must extend horizontally beyond the sides of the vehicle in order for the vertical jacks to reach the ground. This obstructs rear vision and reduces clearance between the vehicle and other vehicles or obstructions thereby creating a safety hazard. It also increases the difficulty of putting the vehicle in a residential garage. The device is intended for conventional, full size pickup trucks, Wand is too large for compact trucks.” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,502 to Pullen relies on a system of numerous chains, sprockets, cranks, and pulleys that require careful alignment, maintenance and lubrication and are prone to mechanical failure to elevate the roof. It requires removing and installing side frames that contain numerous receiving tubes that must be aligned. It requires positioning and attachment of tarps to hooks on the underside of the side platforms. The fold-down side beds are fastened directly to the top of the sidewall and therefore require greater height of the camper frame to obtain adequate bed size. The one-piece door also requires a rear wall of adequate height to allow an individual to enter. Therefore, it does not eliminate the high profile that contributes to increased wind resistance and fuel consumption; the high profile also contributes to dangerous instability conditions created by high side winds while in motion. The device is not intended for use off the vehicle; does not have an aerodynamic shape and does not conform to the aerodynamic contours of the vehicle. The device doesn&#39;t utilize all available truck bed space and is intended for conventional or full size pickup trucks, it is not suitable for compact trucks. 
     None of the prior art solves the disadvantages of inconvenience, degraded safety and poor fuel efficiency. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A folding camper ( 15 ) for a compact or full sized, conventional pickup truck ( 20 ). A pair of side wings ( 22 ) are pivotally attached to a pair of side platforms ( 13 ) attached to a base assembly ( 10 ) that rests on the floor of the pickup truck bed. Side wings ( 22 ) fold down into a horizontal position and are supported from base assembly ( 10 ) by cables ( 24 ). Side wings ( 22 ) and side platforms ( 13 ) together provide a sleeping surface larger than either alone. A roof ( 28 ) is attached to a roof lifting mechanism ( 30 ), whereby the roof is raised and lowered. Side enclosures ( 42 ) and a pair of end enclosures ( 32 ) and ( 38 ) enclose the area between roof ( 28 ) and base assembly ( 10 ) when expanded, whereby a weather resistant enclosure is provided. Doors ( 34 ) and ( 36 ) provide access to the interior. Slanted jacks ( 47 ) and ( 48 ) are removably attached to lift the camper ( 15 ) off the pickup truck bed. Straps ( 62 ) and braces ( 64 ) and ( 66 ) are attached to stabilize the camper ( 15 ), whereby it may be used off the pickup truck ( 20 ). Roof racks ( 46 ) are attached to roof ( 28 ) for transporting long objects. When closed, side wings ( 22 ) are folded upward, enclosures ( 32 ), ( 38 ), and ( 42 ) are folded inward. Roof ( 28 ) is lowered to rest on base assembly ( 10 ) and to overlap side wings ( 22 ). Lower door ( 36 ) is operable and the interior of camper ( 15 ) is available for transport or storage use. 
     The objectives and advantages of the present expanding camper are: 
     to provide an expandable enclosure for mounting on a vehicle that is simple to operate and can be expanded by a single person, 
     to provide an aerodynamic front profile that reduces wind resistance when in motion to reduce fuel consumption, 
     to provide a low side profile to reduce the influence of side winds and increase stability and safety, 
     to provide an enclosure that can remain on the vehicle and be used for other purposes such as transport and storage while in a closed position, 
     to provide a habitation resistant to wind and water when expanded, 
     to utilize the structural properties of component materials to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency, 
     to provide for ease of removal from the vehicle by a single person, 
     to provide lightweight bracing so that the camper can be used for habitation while off the vehicle, 
     to utilize maximum space within the pickup truck bed, 
     to provide a folding camper that can be used with a compact pickup truck as well as conventional, full sized trucks, to provide for transport of elongated or bulky objects such as canoes, boats, pipes, or ladders on the roof. 
     Other objectives of the present invention will become apparent to the reader from consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. It is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the closed folding camper mounted in the bed of a pickup truck for transport and storage. 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the folding camper with one side enclosure removed to show internal components. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the folding camper fully expanded and mounted in a pickup truck bed, ready for habitation. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cutaway perspective view of the folding camper base assembly. 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the roof lifting mechanism and structural sub-frame. 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the folding camper with slanted corner jacks in place to lift camper off pickup truck bed. 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the freestanding folding camper with tension straps and bracing in place for habitation off the pickup truck. 
     FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the underside of the freestanding camper. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       10  base assembly 
       11  front wall 
       12  rear wall 
       13  side platform 
       14  inner side wall 
       15  folding camper 
       16  outer side wall 
       17  floor 
       18  structural sub-frame 
       19  bulkhead 
       20  pickup truck 
       21  storage enclosure 
       22  side wing 
       23  side wing continuous hinge 
       24  side wing cable 
       26  telescoping pole 
       28  roof 
       30  roof lifting mechanism 
       32  rear upper panel 
       34  upper door 
       36  lower door 
       38  front upper panel 
       42  side enclosure 
       44  stays 
       46  roof rack 
       47  slanted rear corner jack 
       48  slanted front corner jack 
       50  front fairing 
       52  pulley 
       53  lift cable 
       54  cable raceway 
       55  upright 
       56  winch 
       60  lower stay receptacle 
       61  upper stay receptacle 
       62  tension 
       64  rear brace 
       66  front brace 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Description—FIG. 1 
     An embodiment of the present folding camper  15  is shown in FIG. 1 (perspective view). A base assembly  10  is positioned on the floor of the bed of a pickup truck  20 . A pair of side wings  22  are folded upward and are resting against a rear wall  12  and a front wall  11 . A roof  28  rests on rear wall  12 , front wall  11 , and side wings  22 , whereby a weather resistant enclosure is created. A pair of roof racks  46  are attached to roof  28 , whereby elongated objects can be secured and transported. A lower door  36  is pivotally attached to rear wall  12 , whereby it can be used to access the interior of the folding camper  15  for storage and transport. 
     Operation—FIG.  1 : 
     Folding camper  15  is positioned on the floor of the bed of pickup truck  20 . Lower door  36  opens outward to allow access to the interior of the folded camper  15  for storage and transport. Elongated items are secured to roof racks  46  for transport. 
     Description—FIGS. 2 to  5   
     A typical embodiment of folding camper  15  is shown in FIG. 2 (perspective view), FIG. 3 (perspective view with side enclosure removed), FIG. 4 (cutaway perspective view of the base assembly), and FIG. 5 (perspective view of the structural sub-frame and roof lifting mechanism). Base assembly  10  comprised front wall  11 , rear wall  12 , a pair of side platforms  13 , a pair of inner side walls  14 , a pair of outer side walls  16 , a floor  17  and a structural sub-frame  18  is formed to fit on the floor of the bed of pickup truck  20 . Inner sidewalls  14  and outer sidewalls  16  are connected to each other by a plurality of bulkheads  19  and to sub-frame  18 , whereby a composite beam is created to increase rigidity and reduce weight. Side wings  22  are pivotally connected to side platforms  13  by a pair of side wing continuous hinges  23 . A plurality of side wing cables  24  are attached to the distal corners of the side wings  22  and front wall  11  and rear wall  12 , whereby side wings  22  are supported horizontally without external supports. A plurality of telescoping poles  26  are connected to roof  28  and a roof lifting mechanism  30 . A rear upper panel  32  is pivotally connected to rear wall  12 , whereby it can rotate from the vertical to the horizontal position. An upper door  34  is attached to rear upper panel  32 . Lower door  36  is attached to rear wall  12 . When upright, upper door  34  is removably connected to lower door  36 , whereby they act as a single unit. A front upper panel  38  is pivotally connected to front wall  11 , whereby it can rotate from a vertical to a horizontal position. A pair of side enclosures  42  are attached to roof  28 , front wall  11 , rear wall  12 , and the outer edges of side wings  22 . Side enclosures  42  are removably attached to the edges of rear upper panel  32  and front upper panel  38 , whereby they can be fastened when the camper is expanded to provide a weather resistant enclosure for human habitation. A plurality of stays  44  are inserted in a plurality of lower stay receptacles  60  near the outer edges of side wings  22  and a plurality of upper stay receptacles  61  near the outer edges of roof  28 , whereby side enclosures  42  are stretched taut. A front fairing  50  is attached to front wall  11 , whereby the front of the camper is made aerodynamic and a storage space  21  is created. A pair of slanted rear corner jacks  47  and a pair of slanted front corner jacks  48  are removably attached to structural sub-frame  18 , whereby folding camper  15  can be lifted off the pickup truck bed. 
     Roof lifting mechanism  30  is comprised of a plurality of pulleys  52 , a plurality of lift cables  53 , a plurality of cable raceways  54 , and a winch  56 . Winch  56  is attached to base assembly  10  within the cavity between inner sidewall  14  and outer side wall  16  on one side of the camper  15 . Pulleys  52  are rotatably connected to a plurality of uprights  55  attached to structural sub-frame  18 . Each lift cable  53  is attached to the bottom of one telescoping pole  26 . Each telescoping pole  26  is slidably positioned within one upright  55 . Each cable raceway  54  is attached to base assembly  10 . Each lift cable  53  passes over the respective pulley  52  and through respective cable raceway  54  to winch  56  where it is attached, whereby the telescoping poles are raised by reeling lift cables  53  in with winch  56 . 
     Operation—FIGS. 2 to  5   
     Folding camper  15  is positioned on the floor of the bed of pickup truck  20  in a folded state. Lower rear door  36  is opened to access winch  56 . Winch  56  is turned to reel in lift cables  53  that raise telescoping poles  26  attached to roof  28 . Roof  28  carries the top edge of side enclosures  42  upward until the bottom of telescoping poles  26  reach pulleys  52 . Front upper panel  38  is rotated upward to a vertical position and is removably attached to roof. 28 . Rear upper panel  32  is rotated upward to a vertical position and is removably fastened to roof  28 . Upper door  34  is removably attached to lower door  36 . Side wings  22  are rotated downward to a horizontal position at the limits of extension of side wing cables  24 . Side platforms  13  and side wings  22  connected together by continuous hinge  23  provide a horizontal sleeping surface larger than either alone. The lower edges of side enclosures  42  are fastened to the outside edges of side wings  22  and fold downward with them. The lower front and rear ends of side enclosures  42  are fastened to the outside edges of rear wall  12  and front wall  11 . The upper front and rear ends of side enclosures  42  are removably attached to the outside edges of rear upper panel  32  and front upper panel  38  with hook and loop fasteners, snaps or other readily available attachment devices. The lower ends of stays  44  are inserted into lower stay receptacles  60  at the outer edge of side wings  42 . The upper ends of stays  44  are inserted into upper stay receptacles  61  on the underside of roof  28 , whereby side enclosure  42  is stretched taut. Folding camper  15  is now ready for human habitation. 
     Description—FIGS. 6 to  8   
     Another embodiment of the present folding camper is shown in FIG. 6 (perspective view of the folding camper with slanted corner jacks in place for lifting), FIG. 7 (perspective view of camper off the pickup truck with braces and straps in place) and FIG. 8 (perspective view of the underside of the camper showing placement of braces and straps). 
     A pair of slanted rear corner jacks  47  are removably attached to the rear of structural sub-frame  18  near the outside corner. A pair of slanted front corner jacks  48  are removably attached to the front of structural sub-frame  18 , whereby folding camper  15  can be lifted off the pickup truck bed and pickup truck  20  removed. 
     A pair of tension straps  62  are removably attached to structural sub-frame  18  and rear corner jacks  47  at the rear of the camper with hooks and eyes or other readily available attachments. A pair of tension straps  62  are removably attached to structural sub-frame  18  and front corner jacks  48  at the front of the camper, whereby folding camper  15  is braced laterally. A pair of rear braces  64  are removably attached to rear corner jacks  47  and the underside of side platforms  13  with bolts and wing nuts or other readily available fasteners. A pair of front braces  66  are removably attached to front corner jacks  48  and the underside of side platforms  13  with bolts and wing nuts or other readily available fasteners, whereby folding camper  15  is stabilized longitudinally and can be used for human habitation off the pickup truck. 
     Operation—FIGS. 6 to  8   
     Folding camper  15  is positioned on the floor of the bed of pickup truck  20 . Slanted rear corner jacks  47  are removably attached to structural sub-frame  18  near the rear corners of base assembly  10 . Slanted front corner jacks  47  are removably attached to structural sub-frame  18  near the front corners of base assembly  10 . Comer jacks  47  and  48  are comprised of any well-known elevating structure such as screw jacks and the like. Corner jacks  47  and  48  are slanted to clear the sides of the pickup truck bed without the need for the corners of the folding camper to extend beyond the bed. Corner jacks  47  and  48  are also slanted so that they buttress the camper against lateral motion. Rear braces  64  are connected near the bottom of jacks  47  and to the underside of side platforms  13  near the center with bolts and wing nuts or other well known connection devices. Front braces  66  are connected near the bottom of jacks  48  and to the underside of side platforms  13  near the center with bolts and wing nuts or other well known connection devices, whereby folding camper  15  is fully braced laterally and longitudinally and can be used for habitation in a free standing configuration. 
     Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope of the Invention: 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the folding camper of this invention can be used as a portable camper on, or off, a compact or conventional, full sized pickup truck. That it can be conveniently expanded, closed, and removed. In addition the camper improves fuel efficiency and improves safety over current campers and can be used for storage and transport when closed. Furthermore the expanding camper has the additional advantages in that: 
     it provides an expandable enclosure for mounting on a vehicle that is simple to operate and can be expanded by a single person, 
     it provides an aerodynamic front profile that reduces wind resistance when in motion to reduce fuel consumption, 
     it provides a low side profile to reduce the influence of side winds and increase stability and safety, 
     it provides an enclosure that can remain on the vehicle and be used for other purposes such as transport and storage while in a closed position, 
     it provides a habitation resistant to wind and water when expanded, 
     it utilizes the structural properties of component materials to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency, 
     it provides for ease of removal from the vehicle by a single person, 
     it provides lightweight bracing so that the camper can be used for habitation while off the vehicle, 
     it utilizes maximum space within the pickup truck bed, 
     it provides a folding camper that can be used with a compact pickup truck as well as conventional, full sized trucks, 
     it provides for transport of elongated or bulky objects such as canoes, boats, pipes, or ladders on the roof. 
     Thus the reader will see that the folding camper of the invention provides a convenient, fuel efficient, and safe device that overcomes the disadvantages of previous devices. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Many other variations are possible. For example the device could be an integral part of a purpose-built camping or utility vehicle, it could be mounted on a trailer or as an integral part of one, it could be used with other types of vehicles or used as a temporary habitation without a vehicle. It could be used as a self-contained shipping container that could be shipped with supplies and unloaded and expanded at a remote site for habitation. The rigid folding upper panels could be replaced with fabric or other material. Conversely the flexible side enclosures could be replaced with rigid or semi-rigid enclosures. Finally, any of a number of other well-known roof elevating mechanisms could be used to raise and lower the roof. 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.