Patent Publication Number: US-2022227282-A1

Title: Folding Camping Apparatus

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/139470, filed on Jan. 20, 2021, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention herein disclosed relates generally to vehicle engageable camping structures. More particularly, it relates to a camper having a continuously centered roof, which is removably engageable with a pickup truck or trailer and easily changed from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Pickup trucks are highly popular vehicles primarily employed for work and for hauling materials in the bed of the pickup truck. However, because of the ability of such vehicles to haul significant weight in the rear-positioned bed, they are also widely used to hold campers and camping components which are removably engageable within the bed of the truck. Such allows the vehicle to be used for both work, and for more enjoyable activities such as camping. As such, many pickup truck owners who enjoy such camping activities will convert their pickup trucks either temporarily or permanently to campers. 
     Because of the popularity of camping, there are numerous pickup truck conversions which are readily commercially sold to pickup truck owners who wish to permanently or temporarily convert their pickup trucks to campers. 
     Permanent camping conversions generally include a self-contained fixed in position, hard-sided camper unit, which is engaged with the bed of the pickup truck. Conventionally, such campers are equipped with home-type appliances such as sinks, stoves, and refrigerators and the like. Such rigid or hard-sided campers have a substantially rigid shell structure which projects above a lower end which is located in the bed of the pickup truck. Where the truck is also used for work or hauling, such campers are conventionally adapted to slide into a removable engagement with the pickup truck bed. 
     However, such rigidly constructed campers, by projecting above the bed and cab of the pickup truck, will cause a significant reduction in fuel economy of the vehicle. Further, the extension of the camper above the truck bed and cab imparts a significant raising of the center of gravity of the vehicle which can render it hard to handle on curves and in high winds. 
     While there exist collapsible and soft sided campers which engage with the bed of a pickup truck, such have their own issues. For example, soft sided campers are less than secure when camping in areas also occupied by animals such as bears. 
     With respect to the above, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the pickup truck engageable folding camper system herein, it is to be understood that the system invention is not limited in its application to the details of employment and to the arrangement of the components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and operations of the herein disclosed pickup truck engageable folding camper system herein are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, all of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once the information herein is reviewed. 
     Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for other folding hard-sided campers which are removably mounted upon pickup trucks. It is important, therefore, that the embodiments, objects and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed device herein provides an easily employed, collapsible and hard-sided camper device. The camper device is removably engageable with the bed of a conventional pickup truck or may be trailer-mounted. 
     The camper device, as herein disclosed, moves between a collapsed position and an elevated or deployed position, through the rotation of opposing sidewalls which are in a sliding connection to a roof. Particularly preferred, in all modes of the device herein, is a roofing system having continuous bias imparted to sliding components thereof, to maintain the roof centered over the base and folding sidewalls at all times. It was found in experimentation that maintaining the roof continuously centered and with a continuous bias imparted to roller mounts engaged between the roof and both sidewalls allowed for smoother operation during opening and closing. Further, jambs which occurred during opening and collapse of the camper device without the biasing system, were found to be substantially eliminated with the flexible members biasing the roller mounts in this biased system. 
     The sidewalls of the camper device herein are preferably formed of rigid material and are in a rotating connection at one end thereof with a rigid body of the camper device. In this rotating connection the sidewalls may be tilted upward to the deployed position wherein they are substantially perpendicular to the plane of a slidably engaged roof which, as noted, remains continuously centered over both sidewalls. The sidewalls may also be rotated downward to a position substantially parallel to the plane of the roof which remains centered thereover when the camper device is moved to the compact or stored configuration. 
     Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or combinations thereof are preferably operatively engaged between the body of the camper device and both the sidewalls. In this position the cylinders may be employed to actuate or assist in the rotating of the sidewalls from the horizontal positioning to the vertical or upward. These hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders, much like those employed on the tailgate of a car, provide a biased assist in the upward tilting of both sidewalls by storing energy therein during the downward movement of both sidewalls. 
     Once the opposing sidewalls are rotated to their elevated positioning substantially perpendicular to the plane of the roof, a front wall, which is in a rotating connection to the body such as with hinges or pivots, and a rear wall also in a similar rotating connection to the body, may be rotated to substantially perpendicular positioning relative to the plane of the roof. During both the raising and lowering of the sidewalls, as noted, the roof is maintained centered over the lower body which prevents jamming and sticking of the moving components in both directions. 
     A door is operatively positioned in the rear wall to allow entry and exit from the formed interior cavity of the camper device while in the elevated or deployed positioning. 
     Key to the smooth operation of the system, is the provision of the roof with the two opposing sidewalls in a manner which will avoid jamming of either or both sidewalls during opening and closing of the camper for use or storage. Because the upward and downward movement of the opposing sidewalls, in their respective engagements to the roof, can impart uneven force to the roof, it is important to provide a flexible member in a connection which prevents such jamming. It is especially important because, over time, the sidewalls can have and will gain their own issues as to resistance rotational movement such that uneven sliding force imparted by one sidewall to the roof, is highly likely. 
     In the development of the camper system herein, after multiple configurational attempts, it was determined that imparting a continuous tensional or biasing force to the sliding rollers engaged between the roof and the two sidewalls, such that the perimeter edge of the roof is maintained in substantial alignment with the perimeter of the camper body, provided prevention to jamming during opening and closing. Further such tensioning or continuous biasing maintained the roof substantially level during elevating and retracting which also helped prevent jamming. 
     Consequently, a flexible member providing tensioning of each of the pivoting assemblies and rollers thereon, using an engaged or integral biasing component or member, such as a spring, provided the ongoing tension to each roller required. Alternatively, this biasing can be provided using elastic flexible members formed of rubber rope or polymeric material which is elastic and will stretch during opening of the sidewalls and contract during the closing thereof. 
     In another mode of the device herein such tension, in an automatic mode of the device, can be provided by electric motors engaged with the cable or flexible member system which can be electronically monitored for current use to maintain a constant tension on the cable by varying the electric current supplied to each. 
     With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the pickup truck engageable, folding camper system herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of operation nor the arrangement of the components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrations in the drawings. The various methods of implementation and operation of the camper herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other hard-sided folding camper systems which are engageable with a pickup truck, and for carrying out the several purposes of the disclosed string line support system. Therefore, the objects and claims herein should be regarded as including such equivalent construction, steps, and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible camper apparatus which is configured for removable engagement with the bed of a truck or which may be positioned upon a small trailer frame. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide such a camper apparatus wherein the roof is load bearing in both the collapsed position and the elevated or deployed position to allow for camping in inclement weather. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide an operative bearing and track engagement between the rotating sidewalls and the roof whereby driven or energy-storing cylinders can be employed to bias the opposing sidewalls upward both of which will concurrently elevate the roof. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fast bed-to-camper latch system allowing for engagement of the camper with the truck bed and thereby eliminate external tie downs required of conventional truck engageable campers. 
     It is yet another object of this invention, to provide such a collapsible camper device and system, which is configured to prevent jamming during opening and closing thereof. 
     These, together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of the construction and operation of the system herein as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     Further objectives of this invention will be ascertained by those skilled in the art as brought out in the following part of the specification wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURE 
         FIG. 1  depicts a rear perspective view of the folding camper device herein showing it in the collapsed position and also showing a pivotally engaged camper jack. 
         FIG. 2  shows the camper device herein operatively positioned within a truck bed and moved to the deployed or elevated position for occupancy by the user. 
         FIG. 3  shows the camper device of  FIG. 1 , being actuated from the collapsed position of  FIG. 1  toward the deployed or elevated position of  FIG. 2 , through powered cylinders which tilt opposing sidewalls upward and concurrently raise the roof through sliding pivotable bearings engaged therebetween. 
         FIG. 4  shows the device of  FIGS. 1-3  from a front perspective view, showing the sidewalls fully elevated and showing the front wall moving from a collapsed position, as in  FIG. 3 , to a fully elevated position as would be in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows the device herein, as in  FIG. 4 , wherein the sidewalls are fully elevated in their sliding engagement with the roof, and the rear wall is being elevated to a substantially perpendicular position. 
         FIGS. 6-7  depict one example of the sliding and pivoting engagement between the roof and sidewalls in the form of tri-linear rollers which engage in a track and which are engaged to a mount allowing for side-to-side translation therewith during the rising and collapsing process to and from the collapsed position and elevated position. 
         FIGS. 8-9  show a mode of the roof-centering assembly herein depicting the frame of the roof engaged with the sidewalls and biasing of flexible members such as spring-loaded cables providing a constant biasing force to maintain the roof centered with the sidewalls during the lifting and lowering of the roof. 
         FIG. 10  shows a mode of the roof-centering assembly herein wherein flexible elastic members provide the constant bias upon the pivoting assembly and rollers during movement of the sidewalls and roof. 
         FIG. 11  shows a mode of the camper device herein wherein having electric powered cylinders which, when operatively connected to electric power, will expand and contract under power from the cylinders and allow for push-button expansion and collapse of the camper device. 
         FIG. 12  shows lower perspective view of the camper device as in  FIG. 11  showing electric motors engaged with the roof provide the roof-centering assembly which maintain the roof centered over the perimeter edge of the body of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the device  10  herein in the depictions of  FIGS. 1-12 , there is seen in  FIG. 1 , a rear perspective view of the folding camper device  10  herein. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  10  is in a collapsed configuration. The device  10  can be moved between this collapsed configuration and the elevated position shown in  FIG. 2 . In all modes, the device  10  is configured for operative engagement to a wheeled vehicle such as a trailer or such as the bed of a pickup truck  12 . Such operative engagement is well known where the body  16  of such a camper device  10  will slide into the open area of the bed of a pickup truck  12  and once so positioned is held removably engaged by connectors adapted to such. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the roof  14  is preferably formed of metal or composite materials such as fiberglass or carbon fiber or the like, such that it is weight bearing in both the collapsed position as in  FIG. 1 , and the elevated position as in  FIG. 2 . 
     The body  16  of the device  10 , which is configured for operative engagement to a vehicle such as a pickup truck  12 , is rotationally engaged with each of two sidewalls  20  and with a front wall  34  ( FIG. 4 ) and a rear wall  26  opposite the front wall  34 . The body  16  is preferably of rigid self-supporting construction such as composite materials or fiberglass or the like. 
     In all modes of the device  10 , biasing components such as cylinders  18  are operatively engaged between the body  16  and sidewalls  20  ( FIG. 3 ). The biasing members such as the shown cylinders  18 , are gas-charged hydraulic cylinders and employ stored air or gas pressure to continuously urge them to an expanded position. Alternatively, such cylinders  18  may employ a powered fluid supply, to impart a biasing to the cylinders  18  to expand. 
     This biasing toward an expanded configuration by onboard stored pneumatic power, or a fluid pump, allows for easy and substantially automatic raising of the sidewalls  20 , from the collapsed position of  FIG. 1  toward the elevated position of  FIG. 2 . However, other biasing components, which will store energy as the sidewalls  20  are moved toward the collapsed position, may be used to open the device  10  herein from that collapsed position of  FIG. 1  to the elevated position as in  FIG. 2 . Such alternative biasing components or biasing members may be employed as would occur to those skilled in the art, such as collapsing springs, weights, or other compression components. However, currently a hydraulic cylinder which is gas charged, or fluid powered are currently preferred due to ease of use and replacement. 
     Also preferred, in all modes of the device  10 , are jacks  22  which are employable for raising and lowering the camper device  10  to and from operative engagement within the bed of the truck  12  and/or for leveling when parked on uneven surfaces. Preferably the jacks  22  are in a pivoting engagement  24  to the body  16  such as a connection on a rotating pin or hinge. This allows the jacks  22  to pivot upward during travel. 
     As noted,  FIG. 2  shows the camper device  10  herein, operatively positioned within a truck bed of a truck  12  and with the sidewalls  20  pivoted to reach a raised position. This pivoting of the raised position using the biasing power of the biasing members such as the cylinders  18 , concurrently lifts the roof  14 . In the position of  FIG. 2 , both the sidewalls  20  and the roof  14  are weight bearing. As with other components, preferably, the sidewalls  20  are formed of a substantially rigid lightweight material such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, or other light weight material. 
     The sidewalls  20  are operatively engaged to the roof  14  in a continuously centered sliding engagement therebetween. The sliding engagement herein maintains the roof  14  substantially centered over both the sidewalls  20  and the perimeter edge of the body  16  as the roof  14  raises or lowers during the tilting up or down of the sidewalls  20 , such as in  FIG. 3 . 
     By maintaining the roof  14  and interior edge of the ledge  15  centered over the body  16  and perimeter edge thereof and around the perimeter of the folded sidewalls  20 , the roof  14  will easily lower and cover the perimeter edges of the two folded sidewalls  20  and the perimeter edge of the body  16 , such as in  FIG. 1 . A latch or other connector configured to hold the roof  14  lowered is preferred to hold the biasing energy in the biasing members such as cylinders  18 . No user intervention is required since the pulley and cable centering system, noted herein, operates to maintain the roof  16 , so centered, during raising and lowering, which was found, in experimentation, to substantially eliminate jamming during use. 
     Currently, such a continuously centered sliding engagement is accomplished using a plurality of rollers engaged with a pivoting assembly which itself is in a sliding engagement to a mount. Such is shown in  FIG. 6-7  and described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the camper device  10  herein is being actuated from the collapsed position of  FIG. 1 , and moving toward the deployed or elevated position of  FIG. 2 . The cylinders  18 , shown operatively engaged between the opposing sidewalls  20  and the body  16 . Each of the opposing sidewalls  20  is at a lower end connected in a respective rotating engagement or connector  29  with the body  16 , such as with a hinge or other pivoting connector. 
     As the device  10  moves toward the elevated configuration of  FIG. 1 , the power provided by the cylinders  18  moves both of the sidewalls  20  upward toward a substantially perpendicular positioning relative to the roof  14 . Distal ends of each sidewall  20  are in a respective sliding engagement to the roof  14  such as shown in  FIG. 8 . As the sidewalls  20  elevate to a vertical position, they slide in their engagement with the roof  14 , until they reach the substantially perpendicular positioning such as in  FIG. 2 . The roof  14  is held elevated by the opposing sidewalls  20  and both are weight bearing in such positioning. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3  is the rear wall  26  which is in a hinged or rotating connection  29  with a rear portion of the body  16 , and remains in a fixed position during the raising of the sidewalls  20  and roof  14 . An upper door portion  30  is pivotally connected to the rear wall  26 , and a lower door portion  32  is pivotally connected to the body  16 . Once the two sidewalls  20  are fully raised, the rear wall  26  is positionable to a raised position by rotation thereof on the pivoting rotating connection  29  with the body  16 . 
     In  FIG. 4  is shown the device  10  of  FIGS. 1-3  from a front perspective view, showing the front wall  34  with a hinge or rotating connector  29  with a front section of the body  16 . As noted above, once the two sidewalls  20  are fully elevated, the rear wall  26  and the depicted front wall  34  may be rotated to elevated positioning where they are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the roof  14 . Locks or magnets or other connectors may be used to hold the front wall  34  and rear wall  26  engaged to the roof  14  or adjacent sidewalls  20 . 
     The operative elevated positioning of the rear wall  26  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As noted, once both sidewalls  20  are fully elevated and supporting the roof  14 , such as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , this rear wall  26  may be rotated upon the rotating connector  29 , such as a hinge, to a fully elevated position which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the roof  14  and sidewalls  20 . Once both the front wall  34 , shown in  FIG. 4 , and the rear wall  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are fully pivoted on their rotating connectors  29  with the body, they may be locked in place until the camper device  10  is moved back to the collapsed positioning of  FIG. 1 , in a reverse of the above noted process. 
     One preferred sliding and pivoting engagement between the distal end of each sidewall  20  and the roof  14 , may be formed by a pivoting assembly  35  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) having a plurality of rollers  36  which are aligned and engaged with a roller mount  38 . This roller mount  38  is connected with a support shaft  40  which is in a sliding and pivoting connection with a shaft mount  42  which connects to the sidewalls  20 . The rollers  36  of each pivoting assembly  35 , in operation of the device  10 , are operatively positioned within a track  45  ( FIG. 9 ), and as the sidewalls  20  are raised or lowered, the rollers  36  of each pivoting assembly  35  maintain a sliding connection with the track  45  mounted to the roof  14 . 
     In this manner, as the user moves the camper device  10  between the collapsed position of  FIG. 1 , to the raised or deployed position such as in  FIG. 2 , the roof  14  will automatically be raised and lowered concurrently with the sidewalls  20 . Further, with the camper device  10  in the raised position, the user is provided the protection of a rigid front wall  34 , rigid rear wall  26 , a rigid weight bearing roof  14 , and rigid sidewalls  20  surrounding them. 
     Additionally preferred, in the device herein, as shown in  FIG. 8-9 , are a roof-centering assembly. By roof-centering assembly herein is meant, an assembly of components engaged with the roof  14 , such as the pivoting assemblies  35  engaged in a track  45 , where the centering assembly operates to maintain the roof  14  centered above the body  16  at all times, such that a ledge cavity  19  defined by the interior perimeter edge surface of a ledge  15  extending from the roof  14  is maintained centered over the perimeter edge  23  of the body  16 . Thus, using a roof centering assembly, as noted, or in another form as would occur to those skilled in the art, maintains the roof  14  substantially level and aligned with and substantially centered around a perimeter edge  23  of the body  16  of the device  10  substantially at all times. By perimeter edge  23  of the body is meant a portion of the exterior surface of the body  16  at the pivoting engagements  24  with the two sidewalls  20  and the front wall  34  and the rear wall  26  such as with rotating connectors  29  or hinges. Of course, another form of roof centering assembly, as would occur to those skilled in the art, may be employed. However, the described roof centering assembly of  FIGS. 8-10  has shown to work well and is currently preferred. 
     The roof centering assembly herein includes a plurality of pivoting assemblies  35  having centering springs  41  portioned upon each support shaft  40  thereof. Each of the pivoting assemblies of the roof centering assembly herein, is engaged to a flexible member, such as a cable  43  ( FIG. 8 ) or a flexible elastic member  53 , shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     To provide ongoing biasing force to the pivoting assemblies  35  engaged at first ends of each flexible member, in one mode where the flexible member is a cable  43 , a biasing member, such as a spring  50  is engaged to one end of each such flexible member or cable  43 . A second end of each flexible member, such as a cable  43  or the elastic member  53 , is operatively engaged with a respective pivoting assembly  35 , which, as noted, is engaged to the rollers  36  which are engaged within the track  45  positioned on the roof  14 . 
     During movement of the roof  14 , from the position of  FIG. 1  to that of  FIG. 3  and back again, the sidewalls  20  are connected at opposing sides to the shaft mount  42  of each pivoting assembly  35 . Each pivoting assembly  35  has rollers  36  pivotally engaged with a roller mount  38  rotationally engaged to the shaft mount  42  by the support shaft  40 . 
     The rollers  36  will roll within the track  45 , and the roller mount  38  will rotate in its engagement on the support shaft  42  of the pivoting assembly  35  to accommodate the different angles achieved as the sidewalls  20 , in their connection to the track  45  and to the shaft mount  42  as the sidewalls  20 , move upward. In this fashion, the biased movement of the sidewalls  20  connected to the shaft mount  42  of the pivoting assembly  35  at each end thereof, moves the rollers  36  and the pivoting assembly  35  from a central position on the roof  14  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , along the track  45  engaged with the roof  14 , and toward side edges of the roof  14 . 
     As noted, each sidewall  20  is connected to a pivoting assembly  35  at each of two ends thereof. Each of the pivoting assemblies  35  is connected to a first end of a respective flexible member, such as a cable  43  ( FIG. 8 ) or elastic member  53  ( FIG. 10 ), which follows a path around a pulley  48  to an engagement of the second end of the flexible member or cable  43  with the one end of a biasing member or spring  50 , or to a fixed mount or anchor  52  where the elastic member  53  is used. The second end of each biasing member or spring  50  is anchored  52  to the roof  14 . 
     With the pivoting assemblies  35  in the central area of the roof  14 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , where the roof  14  would be lowered, the biasing members or springs  50  connected to each respective flexible member, such as a cable  43 , are elongated or stretched. As the two sidewalls  20  pivot upwards, the movement of each pivoting assembly  35  connected to each cable  43 , is urged or enhanced by the biasing force of each elongated biasing member or spring  50  contracting and pulling on the cable  43  engaged to each pivoting assembly  35 . 
     The flexible members, such as cables  43 , are each of a fixed length, and thus, the elongation and contraction of the biasing members, such as springs  50  maintain a substantially equal biasing force on each of the pivoting assemblies  35  engaged on opposite ends of each sidewall  20 . This constant biasing force urges each of the pivoting assemblies away from the central area, as shown in  FIG. 8 , and toward the side edges of the roof  14 . 
     The constant and substantially equal biasing force of this biasing assembly, from the bias imparted to each of the two pivoting assemblies  35  engaged to opposite ends of each sidewall  20 , eliminates sticking from misaligned rollers  36  in tracks  45  and operates to maintain the roof  14  centered over the body  16  at all times such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     It is this biasing force, imparted to each flexible member or cable  43  by each biasing member or spring  50  engaged at the second end thereof, which maintains the roof  14  centered at all times above the perimeter edge of the body  16 . 
     In another mode of the device  10  herein the flexible members are formed from elastic material such as rubber rope or another polymeric material which will stretch, and impart a biasing force to the flexible member to contract, in much the same was as the spring  50  imparts to the cable  43 . In this mode, shown in  FIG. 10 , the flexible member imparting the biasing force to each pivoting assembly  35  is formed by a flexible member formed of elastic material  53 . As the two sidewalls  20 , at their upper edge connection to each pivoting assembly  35 , move toward the center of the roof  14 , the flexible member formed by elastic material  53  elongates and imparts the biasing force to each pivoting assembly  35  in the same fashion as described using a spring  50  above. 
     Thus, using a flexible member such a cable  43  having a biasing member formed by a spring  50 , or using a flexible member formed by elastic material  53  which is anchored  52  in the same fashion as the mode with the spring  50 , a first end of the flexible member imparts a biasing force to each pivoting assembly  35  urging it away from the central area of the roof  14  shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . This maintains the biasing force upon the track-engaged pivoting assemblies  35  which are connected to the sidewalls  20  using the shaft mounts  42  ( FIG. 7 ), at all times. This continous biasing force of the assemblies  35  toward the sidewalls  20  has been found to prevent jamming, and more importantly, to form and provide a force to help open the device when in the collapsed configuration. 
     Another mode of the camper device  10  herein, shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , provides powered cylinders  56  which, when operatively connected to electric power, will expand and contract. Such a configuration will allow for push-button expansion and collapse of the camper device. In this mode, the camper device  10  will expand and contract in the same fashion as noted above but is aided by the electric power which operates the powered cylinders  56  to expand or contract. Such conventionally available cylinders operate with internal pumps and hydraulic fluid, and are also available with internal electric motors operating gear trains which will expand and contract a shaft extending from the cylinder portion, and are well known. 
     In this mode of the camper device  10 , the roof centering assembly instead of using flexible members engaged with biasing members, the device employs electric motors  55  engaged to rotate the sidewalls  20  using tracks  45  and slides  58  connected to the electric motors  55 . Using a microprocessor, having software running to monitor the electric current draw of each motor  55  (not shown but well known), the electric current provided to each motor  55  is continuously adjusted to maintain equal force to be imparted to pull and push each of the sidewalls  20  upward and downward. Again, while more complicated than using biasing force imparted to the pivoting assemblies  35  by flexible members, the employment of electric motors  55  along with the powered cylinders  56  allows for push button operation, while still maintaining the roof  14  centered and level in the fashion, noted above. 
     This centering force insures smooth operation of the device  10  because the roof  14  will always elevate, and more importantly, will always collapse toward the body  16 , with the projecting ledge  15  of the roof  14  in position to easily engage around the perimeter edge of the body  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portion of the perimeter edge of the body  16 , adjacent the sidewalls, front wall  34  and rear wall  26 , is positioned within a ledge cavity  19  defined by the interior perimeter of the ledge  15 . 
     While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the pickup truck engageable, folding camper system, have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.