AU2001100591A4 - Camper - Google Patents

Description

Close Auto's Pty Ltd

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Camper This invention is described in the following statement:

CAMPER

This invention relates to a collapsible camper which can be mounted to, or constructed integrally with, a trailer, a tray of a utility vehicle, a trunk of a motor vehicle, or to any other like vehicle or accessory.

The term "camper" used throughout the specification is intended to mean an enclosure for sleeping in which is used in connection with a wheeled vehicle when camping out.

The camper was initially developed by the inventor for use with a motorcycle trailer and will therefore be primarily described in that context. However further developments have shown its utility for the aforementioned broader range of vehicles and such applications should be borne in mind when considering the inventive implications referred to in the succeeding description.

Campers associated with motorcycle trailers are not common as the few types which exist are either complicated and unwieldy to erect, or are cramped and suitable for use by only one person. A typical crosssection of the types of campers available is illustrated in US Patents 3,823,975; 5,057,283 and 4,079,956.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a collapsible camper which is particularly suitable for use with motorcycle trailers and for low horsepower vehicles, and which is simple and effective to erect and use. It is also an object to provide a camper which can accommodate two people.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible camper comprising: a bed support surface consisting of two leaves hingedly connected to the opposing edges of a joining member in such a manner that one leaf can be folded to lie over the other to form a substantially ushaped container on its side, the said foldable leaf including ground engaging legs which project below it when it is folded into a bed support configuration, and the other leaf being adapted for fixing to a trailer or vehicle so as to project horizontally and coplanarly with the foldable leaf; the said joining member including roof support elements projecting from opposing edges thereof, and ground contacting posts; and a tent which projects from the edges of the bed support surface and over the roof support elements.

Each of the leaves which comprises the bed support surface is preferably formed from pressed metal plate, most preferably sheet aluminium, which is fixed to a braced rectangular framework. The rectangular framework can be formed from square section tube which extends below the leaf around the perimeter, and includes bracing cross-pieces.

One of the leaves is adapted for fixing to a vehicle or trailer either immovably or, if access is required below the leaf to the interior of the vehicle or trailer, by some pivotal connection such as by pneumatic struts or the like. In the case of a motorcycle trailer, the leaf will preferably cover the entire trailer and can be pivoted open about a hinged longitudinal edge by damper supports at each end of the trailer on the interior thereof. The fixed leaf will, of course, be adapted to project horizontally when the vehicle or trailer is parked as this suitably provides approximately one half of the bed surface. One longitudinal edge of the leaf is hingedly connected to the joining member preferably by means of a stainless steel rod hinge.

The joining member can comprise a strip of sheet aluminium fitted to a narrow tubular framework with flanges at each short opposing end which project perpendicular to the surface of the joining member.

Preferably, a primary roof support element extends through the opposing ends of the joining member, adjacent to the flanges, and is rigidly secured in position.

Secondary roof support elements can be hingedly fitted to the flanges and can be designed to fold towards one another when the camper is being folded up. Preferably there are two secondary roof support elements, one on each side of the primary roof support element.

The roof support elements are suitably formed from aluminium tubing which is bent to the desired roof configuration. Typically this will be a rectangular shape.

The ground contacting posts can likewise be formed from aluminium tube with splayed feet for resting on the ground. Preferably the posts are of a fractionally reduced diameter with respect to the primary roof support elements, and extend directly beneath those elements. This configuration is designed to enable the posts to be telescoped within the roof support elements when the camper is collapsed.

The foldable leaf preferably has substantially the same dimensions as the fixed leaf and is similarly constructed and similarly hingedly connected to the joining member. However as the foldable leaf is designed to project beyond the trailer or vehicle, it includes at least two ground engaging legs at the corners most distant from the trailer or vehicle. These legs can, once again, be formed from aluminium tubing and will include feet to enable proper purchase on the ground surface. Preferably, the legs have pivotal connections beneath the foldable leaf so that they can be pivoted up under the foldable leaf when it is being folded for stowage.

The tent is a separate component which is fitted over the camper framework once it has been erected. The basic shape of the tent will be determined by the specific bed support area and the shapes of the roof -support elements. However an additional appendage can be provided, preferably at the end of the bed support surface remote from the trailer or vehicle. Such an appendage can be to provide a space for changing in and can include a door. One or more conventional windows with privacy flaps can, of course, also be provided.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and photographs, in which: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a framework and bed support surface of a camper designed for a motorcycle trailer, Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view of the roof support connection with the joining member, Figure 3 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 fitted to a motorcycle trailer, Figure 4 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 showing the pivotal lid of the motorcycle trailer, Figure 5 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 which has been folded up and covered, Figure 6 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 with a tent fitted thereto, Figure 7 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 6 with an additional appendage, and Figure 8 is a photograph of the arrangement shown in Figure 7 from a different perspective.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the camper framework comprises a fixed leaf 10, a foldable leaf 11, an interconnecting joining member 12, roof support elements 13, 14, 15 and ground engaging legs 16, 17, 18, 19. A practical example is shown in Figure 3 fitted to a motorcycle trailer.

Fixed leaf 10 is a sheet of patterned aluminium secured to a square tubular framework 20 by rivets. The interior edge 21 has one half of a hinge element fitted thereto. The other half of the hinge element 22 (see Figure 2) is fitted to the joining member 12. A cylindrical stainless steel pin connects the two together.

The fixed leaf 10 is arranged so as to overlap the perimeter of a trailer as shown in Figure 4 and is secured to one edge of the trailer by an internal hinge so that access to the trailer is possible. Pneumatic struts enable the fixed leaf 10 to be raised by a predetermined amount and provide additional stability to the fixed leaf when it is in a horizontal position.

The foldable leaf 11 is similarly dimensioned and constructed to the fixed leaf 10. It also has a hinge element on an interior edge 24 which is connected to the opposite edge of the joining member 12 by hinge element 25 (see Figure Associated ground supports 16, 17 are tubular aluminium with foot pads 26, 27. The ground supports are adapted to be folded up under the leaf 11 when the camper is in a folded state.

The joining member 12 comprises a rectangular profile frame 28 (see Figure 2) with flanges 30, 31 on each end. The flanges provide attachment regions for the roof support elements 13, 15 through pivotal connections (eg. 32, 33 see Figure Openings in the ends of the joining member enable the uprights of the roof support element 14 to be secured rigidly therein. The ends of the roof support element 14 open to the bottom of the joining member 12 and enable ground support legs 18, 19 to be telescoped therein when the camper framework is folded. The ground support legs 18, 19 are tubular aluminium and include pads 35, 36 to enable proper purchase on the ground.

The roof support elements 13, 14, 15 are all tubular aluminium and are arranged to the desired roof profile. The roof profile is determined by the tent as shown in Figures 6, 7, 8.

The tent can be made of any conventional material used for the manufacture of tents. It is fitted over the support framework and secured thereto by ties.

Figures 7 and 8 show a changing module fitted to one side of the tent.

In order to fold up the camper to the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the tent is removed and packed in the trailer by raising leaf 10. Leaf 10 is then lowered and secured to the trailer by appropriate locking arrangements.

Ground support legs 18, 19 are telescoped into the uprights of roof support element 14 after removing the necessary locking pins connecting the parts together.

Foldable leaf 11 is then raised at its outer edge and moved in a clockwise direction, taking the joining member 12 and the roof support elements 13, 14, with it, until the foldable leaf 11 directly overlies the fixed leaf 10. An air mattress can be left in situ while this occurs.

The ground legs 16, 17 are then folded onto the rear surface (now facing upwardly) on the leaf 11 and the leaf 11 is retained in that position with one or more catches which clip it to either the fixed leaf or the trailer itself.

A cover is then secured over the entire folded arrangement to achieve the situation shown in Figure The camper according to the present invention, is lightweight, capable of accommodating two persons comfortably, and is easy to erect and disassemble. It meets all of the objections which are outlined in the preamble of this specification.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (5)

1. A collapsible camper comprising: a bed support surface consisting of two leaves hingedly connected to the opposing edges of a joining member in such a manner that one leaf can be folded to lie over the other to form a substantially U-shaped container on its side, the said foldable leaf including ground engaging legs which project below it when it is folded into a bed support configuration, and the other leaf being adapted for fixing to a trailer or vehicle so as to project horizontally and coplanar with the foldable leaf; the said joining member including roof support elements projecting from opposing edges thereof, and ground contacting posts; and (ii) a tent which projects from the edges of the bed support surface and over the roof support elements.

2. A collapsible camper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the leaves is formed from pressed metal plate which is fixed to a braced rectangular framework.

3. A collapsible camper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the joining member comprises a strip of sheet metal fitted to a narrow tubular framework with flanges at each short opposing end which project perpendicular to the surface of the joining member; and wherein the roof support elements comprise a primary roof support element extending through the opposing ends of the joining member, adjacent the flanges, which is rigidly secured in position, and secondary roof support elements which are hingedly fitted to the flanges and can be folded towards one another when the camper is to be folded up.

4. A collapsible camper as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ground contacting posts are metal tubes with splayed feet, wherein the tubes are adapted, in use, to extend below the primary roof support element.

5. A collapsible camper substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2 6 th Day of November 2001 Close Auto's Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO