Patent Publication Number: US-11377010-B2

Title: Side door car camper

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of car tent campers. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     A variety of different car tents have been patented. For example, a Korean patent publication 10-2018-0121299 suggests to install a box shaped tent over an open window to allow a user to sleep with their feet extended out of the window. Japanese reference JP2010179903A to inventor Taketomi entitled On Vehicle Umbrella teaches a fan shaped tent over an open front door of an automobile. Japanese reference JP2015063815A by inventor Yoshinobu Maruo entitled Vehicle Door Tent provides a tent designed to rest on the ground and be connected to the side door of an automobile. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 1,803,237 entitled Portable Shelter Or Tent For Attachment To Automobiles issued Apr. 28, 1931 by inventor C. E. Crooke shows a tent frame that can be connected to the exterior surface of an automobile. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A car tent camper has a flexible rod with a flexible rod upper tip and a flexible rod lower tip. The flexible rod upper tip is configured to engage a door window frame. The flexible rod lower tip is configured to engage a latch loop. An extension is formed as a planar plank. The extension is connected to a horizontal frame member at an extension base. The extension base has a horizontal frame member inside foot and an upright foot. The horizontal frame member inside foot is mounted opposite to the upright foot. A first anchor hook strap is connected to a first extension support, and the first extension support is mounted to the extension. A second anchor hook strap is connected to a second extension support, and the second extension support is mounted to the extension. The second extension support is mounted laterally from the first extension support. A right anchor hook is connected to the right anchor hook strap, and the right anchor hook is configured to engage the latch loop. A left anchor hook is connected to the left anchor hook strap. The left anchor hook is configured to engage a headrest post. 
     The first extension support can be a left extension support, and the second extension support can be a right extension support. The left extension support can be mounted to the left of the right extension support. The car tent camper optionally has the first anchor hook strap configured as a left anchor hook strap, and second anchor hook strap being a right anchor hook strap. The right anchor hook strap is preferably mounted to the right of the left anchor hook strap. 
     The first extension support also has a first connection ring, and the first anchor hook strap is connected to the first connection ring. The first connection ring is mounted to the extension. The second extension support further includes a second connection ring. The second anchor hook strap is connected to the second connection ring. The second connection ring is mounted to the extension. The flexible rod has a first rod section and a second rod section. The first rod section is connected to the second rod section at a rod connector sleeve. The rod connector sleeve provides a detachable connection. 
     The upright foot is connected to the horizontal frame member at an upright foot swivel joint. The car tent also has a tent cover which is formed as a sheet that can be made of fabric. The tent cover is configured to fit over the flexible rod and the extension and can be connected to the flexible rod and extension. The tent cover can be connected to the flexible rod by having a sleeve type connection. The tent cover includes a top magnet bar for connecting to a car body, and a car body magnet bar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of the board portion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an external side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an external front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of the present invention showing the assembly of the inside support. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.
       20  Flexible Rod     21  Flexible Rod Upper Tip     22  Flexible Rod Lower Tip     23  First Rod Section     24  Second Rod Section     25  Rod Connector Sleeve     30  Main Body     31  Latch Loop     32  Door Opening     33  Door     34  Door Pocket     35  Seat     36  Cabin Floor     37  Rear Window Frame     38  Rear Window Frame Indent Corner     41  Headrest     42  Headrest Post     43  Backrest     50  Extension     51  Extension Base     52  Right Extension Support     53  Left Extension Support     54  Horizontal Frame Member     55  Left Anchor Hook     56  Horizontal Frame Member Inside Foot     57  Right Anchor Hook     58  Upright Foot     61  Foot Tip Tapered Edge     52  Horizontal Frame Member Lower Edge     63  Horizontal Frame Member Inside Foot Tip     64  Upright Foot Swivel Joint     65  Left Anchor Hook Strap     66  Right Anchor Hook Strap     67  Left Connection Ring     68  Right Connection Ring     69  Insertion Surface     70  Tent Cover     71  Top Magnet Bar     72  Car Body Magnet Bar     73  Car Door Magnet Bar     74  Tent Cover Bottom Edge     75  Door Pocket     76  Supplemental Strap     77  Inside Support   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , a car tent camper is configured to be installed in a rear side door of an automobile such as a sedan. The tent is installed when the rear side door of the automobile is in an open position. A flexible rod  20  has a flexible rod upper tip  21  and a flexible rod lower tip  22 . The flexible rod also has a rod connector sleeve  25 . The rod connector sleeve  25  connects a first Rod section  23  to a second Rod section  24 . The rod sections can detach from the connector sleeve  25  and fold for storage. The flexible rod upper tip  21  can be lodged in a rear window frame indent corner  38  of a rear window frame  37  of a car door  33 . The car door  33  extends from the main body  30 . The main body  30  has a latch loop  31  which is typically a metal loop that receives the door latch, but in this case is repurposed for receiving the flexible rod lower tip  22 , which is configured to insert into the latch loop  31 . The flexible rod lower tip  22  can be a metal sheathing fit over a fiberglass rod. The flexible rod is preferably a fiberglass rod that has a pair of opposing ends that are cylindrical and capped with aluminum end caps. The aluminum end caps preferably include a rounded tapered tip. 
     The right anchor hook is also engaged to the latch loop  31 . The right anchor hook is connected to the hook strap  66  and the hook strap is connected to a right extension support  52 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , optionally, the hook strap can be connected to the right extension support  52  at a right connection ring  68 . Similarly, a left anchor hook  55  can connect to a headrest post  42 . The headrests post  42  is between the headrest  41  and the backrest  43 . The backrest  43  of the vehicle is padded and the headrest  41  of the vehicle is also padded, but the headrest post  42  is typically a solid stainless steel post that can receive a hook. The hook is preferably metal but coated with a soft grippy cover. 
     The left anchor hook  55  maintains the position of the left anchor hook strap  65 , which in turn supports the left connection ring  67  of the left extension support  53 . Left extension support  53  is connected to the extension  50  formed as a plank. The right connection ring exterior of the right extension support  52  similarly is connected to the right anchor hook strap  66  which is connected to the right anchor hook  57 . The right anchor hook  57  is first engaged to the latch loop  31  and then the length of the right anchor hook strap  66  can be adjusted in length. Similarly, the left anchor hook strap  65  can also be adjusted in length. The right anchor hook strap  66  can be a nylon strapping. The latch loop  31  is preferably bolted to the main body  30  by a pair of bolts. 
     The extension  50  has an extension base  51  at an inside portion of the extension  50 . The extension base  51  is connected to a horizontal frame member  54 . The horizontal frame member  54  has an upright foot  58  at a front end and a horizontal frame member inside foot  56  at a rear end. The horizontal frame member inside foot  56  fits between the rear seat cushion and the main body  30  of the vehicle. The upright foot  58  extends downwardly from the horizontal frame member  54 . The upright foot  58  rests on and is supported by the cabin floor  36 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , the upright foot can be mounted with an upright foot swivel joint  64  that can be height adjustable for selecting a height of the upright foot. For example, the upright foot swivel joint or can be moved up or down so that the upright foot  58  can be mounted in multiple configurations relative to the horizontal frame member before. The multiple configurations can correspond with different heights and angles. 
     Additionally, the horizontal frame member  54  can be flexible in a side-to-side direction and not flexible in and up to down direction. The horizontal frame member  54  preferably is rigid in a vertical direction, but slightly flexible in a horizontal direction. The horizontal frame member has a rear end that is formed as a horizontal frame member inside foot  56 . The horizontal frame member inside foot  56  has a horizontal frame member lower edge  62  and an insertion surface  69  defined between the horizontal frame member lower edge  62  and an upper edge of the horizontal frame member. The foot tip tapered edge  61  can be blade shaped for engagement to secure the horizontal frame member relative to the vehicle. The foot tip tapered edge  61  preferably extends to a horizontal frame member inside foot tip  63  that is pointed for ease of insertion. 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the tent cover  70  fits over the door of a sedan and is held down with a top magnet bar  71 . The car body magnet bar  72  and the car door magnet bar  73  provide a secure connection to the left and right sides of the tent cover  70 . The tent cover bottom edge  74  can be a weighted flap. The upper portion of the cover can have a door pocket  75  for receiving a portion of the door of the car. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the car door magnet bar  73  can also be placed on the outside surface of the car door instead of on the edge of the car door as seen in  FIG. 4 . The tent cover can be connected to the flexible rod such as by providing a sleeve for the flexible rod on the tent cover, or by providing hooks on the tent cover for connecting to the flexible rod. Similarly, the tent cover can be connected to the extension such as by providing a flexible connector. 
     Alternatively as seen in  FIG. 6 , a supplemental strap  76  as seen in  FIG. 1  can replace the upright foot  58 . The supplemental strap  76  may also additionally stabilize and support an inside support  77  and can be used in conjunction with the folding foot. The inside support  77  can be formed as a plank that is connected to the horizontal frame member  54 . The inside support  77  is preferably parallel to the extension  50 , but it can also be formed at an angle to the extension  50  for example by being hinged to extension  50  so that it folds together with extension  50 . The supplemental strap  76  is configured to connect to a headrest post, such as a second headrest post that is not being connected to. The inside support  77  is preferably removably detachable. 
     Although the preferred embodiment is shown in a particular orientation being installed on the right rear door, the car tent camper can also be installed on the right front door, the left front door, or the left rear door. During use, the user provides a mattress or can lay on the rear seats while extending the feet on the extension. The tent cover can have a screen for allowing air exchange.