Patent Publication Number: US-2022227439-A1

Title: Truck Topper Removal Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/139,830, which was filed on Jan. 21, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of accessories for pickup trucks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel table like or support device for removing a truck topper from a pickup truck and holding the topper for removal or later use. The truck topper table or support is made from a plurality of metal or other rigid support members and has scissor- style collapsible legs that can be adjusted to a desired height. The table or support has a pair of horizontal rails which are positioned to be adjacent the base of the topper with rollers disposed along the length of the rails for sliding the truck topper along the rails and off the back of the pickup. The truck topper is placed on the rails when not in use on the truck bed and thus prevents the topper from being placed onto the ground or from having to manually lift the topper off the pickup truck bed. Accordingly, this disclosure makes specific reference thereto the present invention. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     By way of background, removably-attached truck toppers have existed for years and are devices adapted for placement on the bed of a standard pickup truck to thereby enclose the pickup truck bed. The topper are usually placed on the side body walls and in other embodiments may be positioned in the bed of the truck itself. Such devices sometimes consist of a tent-like structure that allows the trunk bed to be used as temporary sleeping quarters, or a canopy-type protective cover for enclosing and protecting cargo stored and transported therein. A standard truck topper has a front end, a rear end, a roof and side walls. Usually, a door is placed in the rear end of the truck topper and over the lift gate of the pickup truck to allow access to the contents of the pickup bed. The truck toppers typically covers the entire bed of the pickup truck, and are large enough to be used for camping purposes, thus making the vehicle an RV. 
     Generally, the truck toppers are removable and hardware tools such as releasing clamps and others are used for removing and installing the topper on the truck bed. Usually, the truck toppers are in the range of 100-140 pounds, thus make it difficult for a single individual to lift the topper alone for removal and installation. Further, the size of the truck toppers is large which makes it difficult for a single individual to control the topper alone. Therefore, it typically requires several people and often up to six individuals to assist in lifting the topper off of the truck bed and putting it back on the truck bed. The availability of multiple people is not always feasible, especially when a family is using the pickup truck. 
     Usually, when a truck topper is removed from the truck bed, it is placed on ground or floor. This not only can physically damage the topper but may cause injury to any individual passing nearby the topper. Further, it is difficult for people to put the topper on ground and lift the heavy topper from ground and carry it to the pickup truck for installation. 
     Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a support device that can be used to easily store or accommodate a truck bed shell or topper and eliminates the topper from being placed onto the ground when the topper is not on the truck. There is also a long felt need in the art for a truck topper carrying device that enables one individual to easily remove and install the topper on their own. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a truck topper carrying and support device that eliminates lifting of the topper from the truck and putting it on the ground. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that eliminates the difficulty associated with the removal and installation process of a truck bed shell or topper. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that can hold the truck topper when not in use. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that acts like an interim table or support for a truck topper and can be used for removing, installing, supporting and holding the truck topper without causing any physical damage to the topper. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a truck topper or shell table or support apparatus. The truck topper table apparatus is configured to be positioned on the rear of a pickup truck for removing and installing a truck topper and for holding a truck topper or shell when the topper is not in use. The truck topper table or supporting apparatus of the present invention prevents the topper or shell from being placed onto the ground when the topper or shell is not on the truck. 
     In this manner, the truck topper or shell table or supporting device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a device designed to remove and store a truck bed shell or topper. The invention enables a single individual to take the topper on and off the truck bed without having to manually lift the topper from the back of the truck bed. The rollers on the device make it easy for the individual to hold the topper on the device and the device can be placed at any convenient location, thereby eliminating the topper from being placed onto the ground when it is not on the truck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a truck topper or shell table or supporting apparatus. The truck topper or shell table apparatus is configured to be positioned adjacent the rear of a pickup truck and at a height of the walls of the bed for removing and installing a truck topper or shell and holding a truck topper when the topper is not in use. The support prevents the topper or shell from being placed onto the ground when the topper or shell is not on the truck. The truck topper table further includes a first pair of collapsible legs pivotally-connected together in a collapsible or scissor-like style at a first central pivot point, and a second pair of collapsible legs pivotally-connected together in a scissor-like style at a second central pivot point. A first horizontal rail is placed or positioned on the first pair of collapsible legs. The first horizontal rail has a plurality of rollers disposed along the length of the rail, and a second horizontal rail positioned on the second pair of collapsible legs. The second horizontal rail has a plurality of rollers which are disposed along the length of the second rail, and a first hinged supporting leg extending from one end of the first rail and a second hinged supporting leg extending from one end of the second rail. The first hinged supporting leg and the second hinged supporting leg are positioned on the bumper or back step of the truck with the rails positioned along the bottom edge of the truck topper or shell, thereby enabling the truck topper or shell to slide along the first rail and the second rail. 
     In yet another embodiment, an apparatus for removing an installed truck topper or shell from the truck bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. The invention includes a pair of hinged supporting legs having a first supporting leg and a second supporting leg positioned on the bumper or a step of the truck. A pair of horizontal rails includes a first rail and a second rail, with each rail having a plurality of rollers disposed along the length of the rail and spaced apart from one another. The first rail is pivotally-connected to the first supporting leg, and the second rail is pivotally- connected to the second supporting leg. A first pair of scissors-style connected legs is positioned on the underside of the first rail, and a second pair of scissors-style connected legs is positioned on the underside of the second rail such that the first pair of scissors style connected legs and the second pair of scissors style connected legs are positioned on the ground for supporting the frame. The height of the invention is adjusted such that the first rail and the second rail are in vertical alignment with the installed truck topper or shell such that the longitudinal edges or base of the truck topper are slid or moved along the first rail and the second rail, thereby allowing the removal of the installed truck topper or shell from the pickup truck. 
     In yet another embodiment, the apparatus with the truck topper placed on the rails is configured to be removed from the rear of the pickup truck, thereby preventing the truck topper from being placed on the ground. 
     In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is collapsible such as with scissors-style legs to support the shell with the first rail and the second rail. 
     In yet another embodiment, the rails are formed from a diamond plate and the length of the rails is longer than the length of the truck topper. 
     In yet another embodiment, the apparatus has cross members for increasing the strength of the table or support to withstand heavy truck toppers. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for removing and storing a truck bed shell or topper using a standalone truck topper table or support is described. The method includes the step of placing the table at the rear of or adjacent to a vehicle or pickup truck, sliding the truck topper along the rails of the table with the rails having rollers to slide the truck topper. Next, the table is removed from rear of the vehicle when the truck topper is placed on the rails, and finally, withdrawing the table from rear of the vehicle and storing the table at a convenient location. 
     Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a truck topper table of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the truck topper table placed at the rear of the vehicle for removing an installed truck topper in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the truck topper being rolled onto one potential embodiment of the truck topper table of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the connection of the leg support and the second rail along with the rollers used in the truck topper table in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view showing the truck topper placed on the table of the present invention where the table is removed from rear of the vehicle for safe storage in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the truck topper table of the present invention in a collapsed state in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that can easily remove, store or accommodate a truck bed shell or topper and eliminates the topper from being placed onto the ground when the topper is not in use on the truck. There is also a long felt need in the art for a truck topper or shell removal and carrying device that enables one individual to easily remove and install the topper on their own, without the need of having a number of other individuals to help. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a truck topper removal and carrying device that eliminates the need for lifting of the topper off the truck bed and then putting the bed or shell on the ground. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that eliminates the difficulty associated with the removal and installation process of a truck bed shell or topper. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that can hold the truck topper when not in use. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that acts like a table or support for a truck topper and can be used for removing, installing and holding the truck topper without causing any physical damage to the topper. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel truck topper table apparatus for removing and storing an installed truck topper or shell from a truck bed of a pickup truck. The apparatus includes a pair of hinged supporting legs positioned on the bumper or step of the truck, a pair of horizontal rails including a first rail and a second rail, with each rail having a plurality of rollers, and in one embodiment five rollers per side. The first rail is pivotally-connected to a first supporting leg, and the second rail is pivotally-connected to a second supporting leg. A first pair of scissors-style connected legs are positioned on the underside of the first rail, and a second pair of scissors-style connected legs are positioned on underside of the second rail. The first pair of scissors style connected legs and the second pair of scissors-style connected legs are positioned on the ground for supporting the topper or shell. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of truck topper table or support  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed specification. The truck topper table or support  100  of the present invention is designed to remove and store a truck bed shell or topper. More specifically, the table or support  100  has a pair of rails including a first rail  102  and a second rail  106 . The first and second rails are of equal length. The rails  102 ,  106  are generally horizontal and used in a planar alignment with the truck bed when raised to the height of the body walls of the bed. The rails are used for placing and rolling a truck topper as best shown in  FIG. 2 . The first rail  102  has a plurality of rollers  104  that are used for sliding the truck topper or shell along the first rail  102 . Similarly, the second rail  106  has a plurality of rollers  108  that are used for sliding the truck topper along the second rail  106 . The first rail  102  and the second rail  106  are dimensioned and designed such that the longitudinal or bottom edges of the truck topper are placed on the rails  102 ,  106  such that the table  100  supports and holds the truck topper. The rollers are preferably equally spaced apart along the length of the rails. In an alternative embodiment, there may be two additional rollers  105  and  109 , such as feed rollers, are disposed at the front end or leading ends of the rails to assist with starting the removal of the topper or shell. 
     For supporting the truck topper on the table  100 , the underside  110  of the first rail  102  has a first front leg  112  and a first rear leg  114 . The first front leg  112  and the first rear leg  114  are pivotally-connected at a first central pivot point  116 . The first front leg  112  and the first rear leg  114  form the first leg assembly and the legs  112 ,  114  are connected in a crisscrossing manner. The legs  112 ,  114  can move forward and backward on the floor to adjust the height of the table  100  and the first rail  102  and second rail  106 . At the end  1020  of the first rail  102 , a first supporting leg  126  extends perpendicularly relative to the first rail  102  and downwardly from the rail and is used for resting on a portion of the pickup truck body such as the bumper or step of the pickup truck (shown in  FIG. 2 ) when the table  100  is in use and the topper is taken on and off of the vehicle. The first and second rails  102  and  106  may be provided with stops  103  and  107  to prevent the topper or shell from rolling off the rails as it moves down the rails via the rollers. 
     Similarly, for supporting the truck topper or shell on the table  100 , the underside  118  of the second rail  106  has a second front leg  120  and a second rear leg  122  such that the second front leg  120  and the second rear leg  122  are pivotally-connected at a second central pivot point  124 . The second front leg  120  and the second rear leg  122  form the second leg assembly and the legs  120 ,  122  are connected in crisscrossing manner. The legs  120 ,  122  can move forward and backward on the floor to adjust the height of the table  100  and the second rail  106 . At the end  1060  of the second rail  106 , a second supporting leg  128  extends perpendicularly relative to the second rail  106 , and downwardly from the second leg and is used for resting on a portion of the pickup truck body such as a bumper or step of the pickup truck (shown in  FIG. 2 ) when the table or support  100  is in use and the topper or shell is taken on and off of the vehicle body. The first supporting leg  126  and the second supporting leg  128  are connected to the respective rails through hinges (shown in  FIG. 4 ) that allow the supporting legs to be pivotally-movable, thereby assisting in collapsing or reducing the height of the table  100 . 
     For providing support to hold heavy truck toppers, the first front leg  112  and the second front leg  120  have one or more cross pieces  130  attached to both the first front leg  112  and the second front leg  120 . The cross piece  130  is removably-attached to the first front leg  112  using a mechanical fastener  130   a  and is removably-attached to the second front leg  120  using a mechanical fastener  130   b . It should be appreciated that the cross piece  130  can be permanently connected to both the first front leg  112  and the second front leg  120  using welding. 
     Also, the first rear leg  114  and the second rear leg  122  have one or more cross pieces  132 ,  134  attached to both the first rear leg  114  and the second rear leg  122 . As shown, the cross piece  132  is removably-attached to the first rear leg  114  using a mechanical fastener  132   a  and is removably-attached to the second rear leg  122  using a mechanical fastener  132   b . The cross piece  134  is removably-attached to the first rear leg  114  using a mechanical fastener  134   a  and is removably-attached to the second rear leg  122  using a mechanical fastener  134   b . It should be appreciated that the cross piece  132 ,  134  can be permanently connected to both the first front leg  112  and the second front leg  120  by welding. The cross members  132 ,  134  are connected to each other in the form of an “X” with a central connecting member  136  that allows a pivotal movement of the cross members  132 ,  134 . The cross members stabilize and strengthen the legs of the table or support  100  and are provided to stiffen the frame structure. 
     The table  100  is collapsible with the front legs  112 ,  120  and the rear legs  114 ,  112  collapsed to align substantially horizontally with the rails  102 ,  106 . Further, the supporting legs  126 ,  128  may also be collapsed for easy portability of the device  100 . The first leg assembly and the second leg assembly are pivotal and help in adjusting height of the table  100  as per the height of the vehicle with which the truck topper table  100  is to be used. 
     It should be appreciated that the truck topper table  100  is adjustable so as to vary the height of the rails  102 ,  106  from the ground. For example, the table  100  may be adjustable between a collapsed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a fully extended configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 , as well as any number of intermediate positions. In order to permit the movement of the table  100  between the various heights, the crisscrossing legs are pivotably-connected at the central pivot points as described earlier in the disclosure. The height adjustment of the table  100  is driven by the mechanical height adjustment assembly. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the truck topper table or support placed at the rear of the vehicle  200  for removing an installed truck topper in accordance with the disclosed specification. For installing the table  100  to remove or install a truck topper  202 , the table or support  100  is used in a fully or partial extended version. The table  100  is installed adjacent or at the rear  206  of the vehicle  200  with the first supporting leg  126  and the second supporting leg  128  positioned on the bumper or step  204  of the vehicle  200 . The supporting legs  126 ,  128  not only provide the balance to the table  100  when installed at rear of the vehicle  200 , but also help in aligning the table  100  with the table topper  202 . 
     The rails  102 ,  106  are positioned horizontally with the first front leg  112  and the first rear leg  114  and the second front leg  120  and the second rear leg  122  supporting the table or support  100  on the ground. The rails  102 ,  106  are adjusted to a desired height as per the height of the vehicle  200  such that the rails  102 ,  106  are aligned with the bottom edge  208  of the truck topper  202 . The truck topper  202  when unassembled from the vehicle&#39;s truck bed  210 , is slid on the rails  102 ,  106  such that the side edge  212  is positioned on the second rail  106  and the opposite side edge  214  is positioned on the first rail  102  of the table  100  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The rails  102 ,  106  are formed of diamond plate having a thickness from 1/16 of an inch to ⅛ of an inch, and thus the table topper  100  is placed securely and stably on the rails  102 , 106  with the rollers rolling the table topper  202  along the rails  102 ,  106 . It should be appreciated that a single individual can install the truck topper or shell installation and removing device  100  and then slide the table topper  202  on the rails  102 ,  106  of the truck topper holding device  100 . The legs of the table provide adequate support and grip on the ground, preventing the table  100  from skidding on the surface. It should be noted that the pivotal movement of the legs and adjusting height of the table  100  is performed as described in  FIG. 1  for a safe and efficient removal of the truck topper  202  from the pickup truck  200 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the truck topper  202  being rolled onto the truck topper table  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed specification. As shown in the present embodiment, the truck topper  202  is removed from the truck bed  210  and is slid onto the rails  102 ,  106 . The rails  102 ,  106  are positioned to support the side edges  214 ,  212  of the truck topper  202  such that the side edges  214 ,  212  are rolled easily on the rails  102 ,  106  respectively, using the first set of rollers  104  and the second set of rollers  108 . The rollers  104 ,  108  allow an easy sliding movement of the heavy truck topper  202  along the rails  102 ,  106  without applying much force by an individual. Rollers  104  and  108  may be manufactured from any suitable material such as a silicone rubber, plastic such as polypropylene and polyethylene, stainless steel, rubber and combinations thereof. 
     As shown, the truck topper  202  is partially placed on the table  100  and partially placed on the truck bed  210  and a user can pull and slide the truck topper  202  along the rails  102 ,  106  easily to completely remove the truck topper  202  from the vehicle. The table  100  eliminates the need for a user to lift the truck topper  202  and place it at any other location. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a close view of the connection of the leg support  128  and the second rail  106  along with the rollers  108  used in the truck topper table  100  in accordance with the disclosed specification. The same connection used with the second rail  106  and the second leg support  128  is used for the first rail  102  and the first leg support  126 . As shown, the second leg support  128  is connected to the second rail  106  through a hinge  402  that allows a pivotal movement of the second leg support  128  relative to the second rail  106 . Further, when the second leg support  128  is perpendicularly positioned relative to the second rail  106 , then the second leg support  128  is locked in a stable and secure position. The pivotal movement is useful while collapsing the truck topper or shell installation and removing the device  100  when the device  100  is not in use. In use, the leg supports  126 ,  128  are placed on the bumper or truck step  204  which provides stability to the truck topper shell holding device  100 . The rollers  108  are integrated with the second rail  106  and can rotate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. This allows sliding of the truck topper in both forward and rear directions and thus makes the installation and removal of the truck topper easy and convenient. 
     Also, in  FIG. 4 , the second rear leg  122  is connected at the attachment point  1060  of the second rail  106  is shown. The other end of the second rear leg  122  is placed on the ground enabling the second rear leg  122  to be moved to align with the second rail  106  when collapsing the table  100 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view showing the truck topper placed on the table  100  of the present invention where the table is removed from rear of the vehicle for safe storage in accordance with the disclosed specification. One advantage of the truck topper shell holding device  100  is that it prevents the topper  202  from being placed onto the ground when the topper  202  is not on the truck  200  or is not in use. The table  100  with the topper  202  placed on the rails is removed from the rear of the vehicle  200  and can be pushed to a storage area as per the requirements of a user. The truck topper holding device  100  has the topper  202  placed on it and can be easily pushed or pulled while the topper  202  remains positioned on the table  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the truck topper or shell table of the present invention in a collapsed state in accordance with the disclosed specification. As stated earlier, the table  100  is collapsible and can be stored easily when it is not being used for storing and holding a truck topper or shell. In the collapsed state, the height of the table  100  is decreased and the collapsible legs  112 ,  114 ,  120 ,  122  are pivotally moved to adhere to the rails  102 ,  106 . The supporting legs  126 ,  128  are also moved from their original position of being perpendicular to the rails to secure the rails to the table  100  in a collapsed state. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “truck topper holding device”, “truck topper table”, “table”, “apparatus”, “device”, and “truck topper installation and removing device” are interchangeable and refer to the truck topper table or removal device  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the truck topper table  100  of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the truck topper table  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the truck topper table  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the truck topper table  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the truck topper table  100  may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.